Crucial to much of the national changes to planning policies, and reflected in the recent publication by Mid Sussex DC of a draft District Plan currently being consulted on, along with a draft Sustainability Appraisal and draft Habitat Regulations Assessment, is the notion of sustainable development.

It is therefore reassuring to hear the Minister responsible, when asked what definitions of sustainable development are used by his Department, Bob Neil (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Communities and Local Government) referred to “the classic definition of sustainable definition, set out by the Brundtland Commission, i.e. development that meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This is reflected in the [Coalition] Government’s vision for sustainable development published in February 2011 and by this Department in their work including the consultation draft of the national planning policy framework”.

The task of the new District Plan should be to hold this undertaking to account in the detail of its implementation.

Too many homes are left empty and unused when local  housing need is greater than ever before,  700,000 homes are left empty nationally, including houses like the long standing empty property in Mill Road, and housing association homes such as in my own road.   Over 300,000 of these are long-term empties – vacant for more than six months. That’s 2 years’ new housing supply.  It’s a scandal, when thousands of families cannot get a decent home, yet houses are left vacant for no good reason.

A local Affinity Sutton Housing Association property has been empty since March, apparently due to the electricity being disconnected, yet over seven months later it seems we are still waiting for this property to be relet.  I recently asked Mid Sussex District Council if they reviewed Affinity Sutton’s local performance on repairs or lettings, although apparently this is not taken into account when considering advancing  funding for new housing .  It seems strange that such an important local provider is not held accountable for its performance.

Conservative splits over the EU risk damaging our relationships in Europe at a time when economic circumstances dictate we should be working more closely together to promote growth and jobs.  Yet Conservative fixations with whether we should be members of the EU or not, risk damaging our ability to promote UK interests in Europe.  Nick Clegg is urging an end to this futile distraction, and to put jobs and our economic interest first, before narrow sectarian politics.

Instead of negative jibes we should be welcoming the real power our membership gives us, if we choose to use it positively, to reform the EU and make it more efficient, to continue its championing greater competition, as pioneered by local Liberal Democrat MEP’s Sharon Bowles and Catherine Bearder.  We need our membership to make a real impact on the issues that affect us, such as promoting economic growth, and working together on defence issues, where successful co-operation on Libya for example, could be expanded to wider defence issues. 

Conservative attitudes to Europe are negative and obstructist, however as part of the Coalition, Liberal Democrats have restrained Conservative impulses, and want to promote positive engagement for a reformed EU as part our strategy to promote the growth and jobs we so desperately need at this time of economic hardship.

Mid Sussex  benefits from its proximity to EU markets and in particular we  benefit from being a part of:

·         The EU’s Single Market gives British companies free trade access to the world’s biggest single market worth £12tn in GDP and over 500 million consumers.

·         3.5 million British jobs are reliant on the EU’s single market. That’s 1 in every 10 British jobs.

·         The growth in free trade within the EU has generated around £3,300 per British household per year over the last 30 years.

·         Over 50% of foreign direct investment (FDI) to the UK comes from other EU member states, and is worth £351bn a year. The UK attracts global FDI because of its full access to the single market.

·         The UK is pushing to liberalise trade within the EU in new growth areas such as energy, digital, services and green tech. sectors. This could add over £650 billion to the EU economy, making the average UK household almost £3,500 better off each year.

·         By negotiating as part of the world biggest single market bloc, the UK is able to get much better terms and access than it would if it were negotiating by itself. For example, a recently signed EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea (a bigger market than Turkey or Indonesia) has virtually eradicated all tariffs barriers for EU exporters. It will bring £500m a year of benefits to British businesses.

David Cameron’s Conservatives seem intent on finding implacable enemies in Europe when in many cases we have common ground to reform and make more efficient the European Union, Liberal Democrats see this as a positive opportunity to reform, whilst the Conservatives see this as a sterile debate over whether we are in Europe or out, whilst ignoring its potential to promote jobs and economic growth.

Regular users of Wivelsfield Station will know the hazards of wet weather when the frequent pot holes on Leylands Road lead to pedestrians having to suffer from  the splashes of passing vehicles.  We have been lucky recently to have had a dry spell and this has also kept the pot holes at bay, although I have reported a particularly deep pothole outside 23 Leylands Road for remedial action.   Contact the Town Council Help Point on 247726 if you see any further examples.

Just to report that the sofa that had been hanging around the verge of Maple Drive, between Dumbrills Close and the Hawthorns, has been safely captured after I reported the problem to Burgess Hill Town Council.  The poor creature had lost its wrapping and was a potential danger to road users.  Report fly tipping here – don’t try to tackle the fly tipper yourself but try to take a photograph and note:

• The time and date and where it is happening
• Vehicle registration
• Description of the vehicle – colour, make and model. Is there anything special about it? Does it have an insignia or contact numbers?
• What sort of rubbish is being dumped?

Burgess Hill Town Council Meeting on 29^th September received a report about the proposed merger of East and West Sussex Fire Service, public consultation has just ended on the proposed amalgamation.  The aim of the proposal should be to save money and a offer a clear commitment to achieve savings from merging the two services without affecting front line services.  One option would be to combine the two existing fire HQ’s in Chichester and Eastbourne that provide central administration and training facilities to a new location in the centre of Sussex, near to convenient transport links (A23, A27 and A272) and situated on employment land to the west of Burgess Hill.  Perhaps not much chance of this happening given vested interests elsewhere, but it does highlight the towns central location at the heart of Sussex, and at the centre of its road network – ideal for public or private organisations to relocate to!