WEALDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL

LOCAL COUNCILS SUCH AS WEALDEN ARE PART OF A MACRO GOVERNMENT THAT SHOULD HAVE THEIR EYES FIXED FIRMLY ON THE FUTURE

 

 

 

Weald down land December sunset 2017 looking toward Hailsham from Herstmonceux. We can remember that at this time of year this field would be feet deep in snow. Copyright photograph © Cleaner Ocean Foundation Ltd, all rights reserved.

 

 

COUNCILLORS SERVING IN 2017 INTO 2018

 

Dick Angel
Councillor Dick Angel

Heathfield Nth & Cenrl - Cons

 


Councillor Kevin Balsdon

Pevensey and Westham - Cons

 


Councillor Jo Bentley

Hailsham South and West - Cons

 


Councillor Bob Bowdler

Heathfield East - Cons

 


Councillor Lin Clark

Pevensey and Westham - Cons

Deputy Chairman Standards

 


Councillor Nicholas Collinson

Hailsham Central & North - Cons

Portfolio Community Leadership Human Resources

 

Nigel Coltman
Councillor Nigel Coltman

Hailsham Central and North - Cons

Chairman of Licensing

 


Councillor Dianne Dear

Pevensey and Westham - Cons

Dep Chair of Planning South

 


Councillor Phil Dixon

Rotherfield - Conservative

Dep Chair of Audit Finance

 


Councillor Pam Doodes

Ninfield & Hooe with Wartling

Conservative - Vice-Chairman

 


Councillor Claire Dowling

Uckfield Central - Cons

Dep Ldr Public Health Safety

 


Councillor Jan Dunk

Heathfield North & Central - Conservative

 


Councillor Philip Ede

Alfriston - Conservative

 


Councillor Helen Firth

Uckfield New Town - Cons

 


Councillor Jonica Fox

Cross-in-Hand/ Five Ashes - Conservative

 


Councillor Roy Galley

Danehill/ Fletching/ Nutley - Cons

Portfolio Economic Dev & Waste Man

 


Councillor Richard Grocock

Hailsham South and West - Cons

 


Councillor Chris Hardy

Hartfield - Cons- Chairman

 

 

 

Jim Hollins
Councillor Jim Hollins

Crowborough West - Cons

 


Councillor Peter Holloway

Forest Row - Conservative

 


Councillor Johanna Howell

Frant/ Withyham - Cons

Ch Planning North

 


Councillor Toby Illingworth

Buxted & Maresfield - Cons

 

 


Councillor Stephen Isted

Crowborough Jarvis Brook - Independent

 


Councillor Andy Long

Herstmonceux - Cons

 


Councillor Michael Lunn

Buxted & Maresfield - Cons

 


Councillor Philip Lunn

Crowborough East - Cons

 


Councillor Barry Marlowe

Uckfield Ridgewood - Cons

Dep Ch Licensing

 


Councillor Rowena Moore

Forest Row - Conservative

 


Councillor Kay Moss

Crowborough St Johns - Cons

Dep Chair Overview & Scrutiny

 


Councillor Douglas Murray

Willingdon - Conservative

 

Councillor Ann Newton, Framfield, Wealden District
Councillor Ann Newton

Framfield - Cons

Portfolio Planning & Dev

 


Councillor Amanda O'Rawe

Hailsham East - Conservative

 


Councillor Mark Pinkney

Hellingly - Conservative

 


Councillor Dr Brian Redman

Mayfield - Conservative

Chairman of Standards Committee

 


Councillor Ronald Reed

Crowborough North - Conservative

 


Councillor Carol Reynolds

Uckfield North - Cons

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greg Rose
Councillor Greg Rose

Crowborough East - Cons

Chair Overview & Scrutiny

 


Councillor Peter Roundell

Danehill/ Fletching/ Nutley - Cons

Chairman Audit Finance

 


Councillor William Rutherford

Frant/ Withyham - Cons

 


Councillor Daniel Shing

Polegate South - Ind Democrat

 


Councillor Oi Lin Shing

Polegate North - Ind Democrat

 


Councillor Raymond Shing

Willingdon - Independent Democrat

 


Councillor Stephen Shing

Willingdon - Independent Democrat

 


Councillor Angela Snell

Polegate North - Conservative

 


Councillor Robert Standley

Wadhurst - Conservative

Leader of the Council

 


Councillor Susan Stedman

Horam - Conservative

Chair Planning South

 


Councillor Roger Thomas

Heathfield North & Central - Cons

 


Councillor Jeannette Towey

Crowborough West - Cons

 


Councillor Chriss Triandafyllou

Hailsham South and West - Cons

 


Councillor Peter Waldock

Uckfield North - Cons

 


Councillor Neil Waller

Crowborough North - Cons

Dep Chair Planning North

 


Councillor David Watts

Chiddingly & East Hoathly - Cons

 


Councillor Graham Wells

Wadhurst - Cons

Portfolio Housing & Benefits

 


Councillor David White

Hellingly - Independent

 


Councillor John Wilton

East Dean - Conservative

 

 

 

RAMBLING - This gate has seen better days, but that should not put you off from paying a visit to our glorious Sussex countryside. If you can spare the time, you will discover peace and the charm of living that town dwellers forget about as they inhale diesel particulates. It's good for you as well. Copyright photograph © February 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation Ltd, all rights reserved.

 

 

The above are members (councillors) of the Wealden District Council in 2017. They are entrusted to provide an effective administration, taking in taxes from the residents and businesses and doing their best to provide social and other services efficiently. The introduction of the Climate Change Act 2008 and the requirement to provide affordable land for sustainable development is a challenge that most councils in the United Kingdom are finding hard to adapt to, since directed to do so from 2012 in the National Planning Policy Framework Document.

 

Life in England is much harder now for young families who cannot afford to buy their own house, where the cost of living and the high cost of renting property leaves them unable to aspire to home ownership. This means a life of rentals and constant moving as landlords seek to get the highest possible rents for their properties in a market that is geared up to allow them to exploit the next generation, and the next and the next - unless something is done to break the cycle.

 

It was Margaret Thatcher who (in effect) cancelled low cost council housing, without giving a moments thought to the long-term ramifications for those at the other end of the earning scale. We wonder if our present Prime Minister, Theresa May, might try to do something about affordable housing to seek to re-balance the system. Obviously, once she sorts out the Brexit mess.

 

One of the problems might be that many councillors in the UK are either landlords or have close ties with land and property owners. If that is so, this is a clear conflict on interest that should be addressed. Councillors who do not have any residual interests will be more likely to want both affordable and sustainable housing for their constituents as they aim for a truly circular economy. The same rule applies to planning officers, some of which are known to have ties with the exploitative renting community. It is human nature to take advantage of a trusted position in public office and at the moment there are no outside safety nets to police the planning police - where we know from our investigations that the serious (organized) crime office will not get involved.

 

The fact is that affordable land has not been identified in Wealden land and at the time of writing, there are very few energy sustainable houses being built such as to get anywhere near the UN targets. We fear that Brexit may take England further away from the European lead targets as research funding will be near impossible to find once Horizon 2020 grants dry up.

 

You MP for the Wealden District is Nusrat Ghani. She takes over from Charles Hendry and before him, Sir Geoffrey Johnson-Smith. We hope that Ms Ghani does what she can to implement a low carbon society, aiming for a truly circular economy and fair taxes. Speaking of which, what about our Road Fund Licences. Where is that money going if not on building better roads and keeping the ones we have in good condition. Wealden is littered with potholes. When will we see an end to the Pothole Politics that the previous coalition Government favoured.

 

 

 

 

YESTERYEAR - This very large Victorian country house soaks up heating oil like there is no tomorrow. In fact, with the climate change act targets not being met by Wealden District Council at the moment, there may well be no tomorrow. Don't you just love the snow? Makes you think of winter when you were young. Enjoy it while you can. The councillors at Wealden are helping to make scenes like this a thing of the past. Copyright © photograph 27 February 2018.

 

 

Dick Angel - Kevin Balsdon - Jo Bentley - John Blake - Bob Bowdler - Don Broadbent - Norman Buck - Raymond Cade - John Carvey

  Lin Clark - Nicholas Collinson - Nigel Coltman - Ronald Cussons - Barby Dashwood-Morris - Dianne Dear - Phil Dixon - Pam Doodes

  Claire Dowling - Jan Dunk - Louise Eastwood - Philip Ede - Helen Firth - Jonica Fox - Roy Galley - Richard Grocock - Chris Hardy

Steve Harms - Jim Hollins - Peter Holloway - Johanna Howell - Toby Illingworth - Stephen Isted - David Larkin - Andy Long - Michael Lunn

Philip Lunn - Barry Marlowe - Nigel McKeeman - Rowena Moore - Kay Moss - Douglas Murray - Ann Newton - Ken Ogden

Amanda O'RaweCharles R Peck - Diane Phillips - Mark Pinkney - Major Antony Quin RM - Ronald Reed - Dr. Brian Redman

Carol Reynolds - Greg Rose - Peter Roundell - William Rutherford - Daniel Shing - Oi Lin Shing - Raymond Shing - Stephen Shing

Angela Snell - Robert Standley - Susan Stedman - Rupert Thornely-Taylor - Roger Thomas - Bill Tooley - Jeanette Towey - Chriss Triandafyllou

Peter Waldock - Neil Waller - David Watts - Mark Weaver -Graham Wells - David White - John Wilton

  

 

 

 

A WHITE CHRISTMAS - Lobby your councillors for more to be done to combat climate change or we will lose our winters altogether and your children will never see the sight of a snowy field or experience the crisp air on a winter walk. Copyright photograph © 27 February 2018 Cleaner Ocean Foundation Ltd, all rights reserved.

 

 

COUNCILLORS SERVING IN 2002 - 2010

 

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Lord Abergavenny
Councillor Lord Abergavenny

Frant/Withyham Conservative

 

Councillor Raymond Cade   

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Christina Berry
Councillor Mrs Christina Berry

Polegate North

Liberal Democrat

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Bruce Broughton-Tompkins
Cllr Bruce Broughton-Tompkins

Crowborough St Johns Cons

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Frank Brown
Councillor Frank Brown

Danehill/Fletching/Nutley Cons

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Norman Buck
Councillor Norman Buck

Buxted & Maresfield

Cons Deputy Leader Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Change Management

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Jane Clark
Councillor Mrs Jane Clark

Crowborough East

Liberal Democrat

Chairman Select Committee

 

Councillor Ronald Cussons

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Nick Ellwood
Councillor Nick Ellwood

Hailsham South and West

Wealden Independent

Leader, Wealden Independent Group

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Dr Ian Haffenden
Councillor Dr Ian Haffenden

Hailsham South and West

Wealden Independent

 

Councillor Steve Harms 

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Paul Holbrook
Councillor Paul Holbrook

Hailsham Central and North

Liberal Democrat

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Jim Hollins
Councillor Jim Hollins

Hartfield Conservative

Deputy Chairman, Environment Scrutiny Committee; Chairman Liquor & Entertainments Licensing Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Pat Kennedy
Councillor Mrs Pat Kennedy

Buxted & Maresfield

Conservative Chairman of the Council

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Margaret Kirkpatrick
Cllr Mrs Margaret Kirkpatrick

Heathfield North & Central

Conservative

Cab Port Holder Housing 

& Community Development

 

photo - link to details of Councillor David Logan
Councillor David Logan

Rotherfield

Conservative

Cabinet Portfolio Holder Finance & Assets

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Sylvia Martin
Councillor Mrs Sylvia Martin

Danehill/Fletching/Nutley

Conservative Dep Chairman

Select Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Roy Martin
Councillor Roy Martin

Polegate North Liberal Democrat

Deputy Chairman Dev Ctrl

South Sub-Committee

 

Councillor Nigel McKeeman

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Linda McKeever
Councillor Mrs Linda McKeever

Pevensey and Westham

Conservative

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Ian McKirgan
Councillor Ian McKirgan

Crowborough Jarvis Brook

Wealden Independent

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Ian Mein
Councillor Ian Mein

Crowborough East

Lib Dem Vice Chairman and 

Deputy Chair Dev Nth Sub-Com

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Anna Monaghan
Councillor Mrs Anna Monaghan

Wadhurst

Conservative

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Laura Murphy
Councillor Mrs Laura Murphy

Hailsham Central and North

Leader of the Liberal 

Democrat Group

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Lynda Myers
Councillor Mrs Lynda Myers

Frant/Withyham

Conservative

Deputy Chairman 

Regulatory Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Ian Nottage
Councillor Ian Nottage

Uckfield Liberal Democrat

Dep Chair Liquor and 

Entertainments Licensing

 

 

 

 

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Niki Oakes
Councillor Mrs Niki Oakes

Heathfield North & Central

Conservative

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Raymond Parsons
Councillor Raymond Parsons

Forest Row

Conservative

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services and Chair Personnel Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Diane Phillips
Councillor Mrs Diane Phillips

Crowborough West

Conservative

Chairman Community Scrutiny Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Geoff Rowe
Councillor Geoff Rowe

Hailsham South and West

Wealden Independent

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Ivy Scarborough
Councillor Mrs Ivy Scarborough

Polegate South

Wealden Independent

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Tony Seabrook
Councillor Tony Seabrook

Willingdon

Liberal Democrat

Deputy Chairman Community Scrutiny Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Paul Sparks
Councillor Paul Sparks

Uckfield North

Liberal Democrat

Deputy Chairman Internal Scrutiny Committee

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Robert Sweetland
Councillor Robert Sweetland

Uckfield Ridgewood

Liberal Democrat

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Mrs Sylvia Tidy
Councillor Mrs Sylvia Tidy

Chiddingly & East Hoathly

Conservative

 

Stuart Towner

Councillor Stuart Towner 

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Brian West
Councillor Brian West

East Dean

Conservative

 

photo - link to details of Councillor Keith Whitehead
Councillor Keith Whitehead

Alfriston

Conservative

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development &

 

 Rupert Thornely-Taylor


Councillor Rupert Taylor

Uckfield Leader Conservative

 

 

We pay a lot of public money for the civil servants that run our councils. The quality and integrity of the staff that members of our councils hire and trust to do things correctly and honestly is paramount. The moment that anyone becomes aware that an officer of your council is abusing their position of trust - you should haul them up for an investigation and if impropriety is established, then that/those civil servants must be dismissed for the good of the council - in the process losing their pension rights - as forfeiture in stead of a prosecution perhaps - except where the abuse of trust is so beneficial in terms of fraudulently obtaining gains, such as a gain in land value.

 

There are many well documented examples of abuses on the www.bushywood.com and other anti-corruption websites. The unlawful demolition at Bushy Wood is the lead case, hence the name of that website. you may be told by your officers that the published cases are untrue. If you are told this we advise reading the papers for yourself, and reprimanding the officer(s) who are spreading confusion, because in all likelihood it is those officers who are up to no good.

 

Another case where your officers failed to act to protect a tenant is the case of the farmer Anne Harris. Judge Kennedy is quoted as saying that her case was the worst case of harassment that had come before him in the Eastbourne County Court. He fined her landlord Mr Anscombe ten of thousands of £pounds for his actions that were only possible because your council failed to act to stop him. Setting fires adjacent to her home as he did could well have ended in a death and a murder charge. Fortunately, Mrs Harris made a legal stand before the harm escalated.

 

Lessons to be learned. Let us hope that all of you will do your utmost to ensure that such repeats of history do not happen again. It is up to you.

 

 

LINKS:

 

http://www.


 

 

This website is Copyright © 2018 Kismet Girls Trust