We've teamed up with Podback to launch a coffee pod collection service in Horsham District.

The new coffee pod recycling service will help support the Council’s aims to reduce waste, increase recycling and achieve carbon savings to help tackle climate change.

It is the latest in a series of innovative recycling initiatives from the Council, including the kerbside weekly collection of batteries and bookable collection of textiles and small electrical items as well as a recent food waste collection trial.

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New Leader announced for Horsham District Council

At an Extraordinary Council meeting of Horsham District Council on 2 February 2023 Cllr Claire Vickers was appointed the new Leader of the Council.

Cllr Vickers has subsequently made a series of Cabinet Member appointments.

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West Sussex County Council News

WSCC Budget Proposal.

West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet have publicised their proposed budget for 2023/24 that delivers for those in need whilst continuing to invest in priority areas. Next year (2023/24) the County Council is planning to spend a total of £1.86 billion to deliver day-to-day services to a growing population of 882,676 residents and 37,400 businesses across the county. Pressure and additional expense is being felt particularly in adults’ and children’s services, where the County Council is supporting people who have an increasing complexity of need. Next year’s budget will include:
• £84m on waste services, climate change and our environment
• £80m on maintaining 4046km of roads & 3,956km of footways
• £435m supporting 8,500 adults through social care
• £36m (tbc) keeping 883,000 residents healthy through public health services.
• £174m supporting 880 children we care for, 760 children on Child Protection Plans, 1,585 children on Child in Need Plans and 2,130 families through early help
• £883m on support to 118,276 children in the 286 schools, 6,510 children with education health and care plans which has seen an increase of 90% since March 2015 and support to 2,400 families and young carers

Final decisions on the budget and any increase in council tax will be made at a meeting of Full Council on Friday 17 February at 10.30am at County Hall, Chichester. Find out more about the budget setting process and the council’s priorities at www.westsussex.gov.uk/budget Anyone who wishes to make a comment on the budget can email budget@westsussex.gov.uk Anyone struggling to pay their council tax is advised to contact their local district or borough council to see if they are eligible for a discount or exemption.

Highways demand and extension of response time.
Highways is currently experiencing extraordinary levels of demand due to the recent weather and the significant impact it has had on our highway network. As such they are ensuring our resources are focused on safety matters and defect reports.
To ensure customer expectations are managed during this time they have revised the acknowledgement received by customers upon submitting a report. Timescales have been extended to 20 days, with the assurance that all reports are triaged upon receiving and that safety defects are being prioritised.

Independent Visitor Scheme.
WSCC are looking for volunteers to support children in care. If you are a kind and caring person who could offer a few hours each month to provide friendship and to do something fun and interesting to support a child in care, then WSCC are looking for volunteers to become an Independent Visitor and help make a real difference in the life of a child in care.

To apply to the Independent Visitor Scheme, you must be at least 21 years of age. In order to be truly independent, you or your partner cannot work in children's social care in West Sussex and cannot be elected members. Applicants need to be able to commit to being an independent visitor for at least two years. Children in care need that sort of continuity and ideally the relationship becomes a genuine friendship that will continue informally after the young person leaves care at the age of 18. For more information please see here : Independent Visitor Scheme - West Sussex County Council