West Sussex Registration Service – “Now We Are One”

WEST Sussex County Council’s five Register Offices, which are at Chichester, Crawley, Haywards Heath, Horsham, and Worthing, will operate as one from Thursday April 1.

This means births or deaths occurring in West Sussex can be registered at any of the offices and couples will be able to give notice of marriage and civil partnerships at the offices.

“This wasn’t possible in the past. We have now made the system much more flexible,” said Peter Evans, Cabinet Member responsible for the Registration Service.

However, anyone subject to immigration control will still need to give notice of marriage or civil partnership at Crawley Register Office, which also offers a Nationality Checking Service.

For any further information visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/registration, where you can schedule your own appointments and purchase copy certificates or by calling us on 01243 642122.

Flagship County Council schemes to go ahead

The Leader of West Sussex County Council says he is delighted that all of the planned School Safety Zones for the next year are to go ahead.

Henry Smith has taken steps to ensure that the ‘vital safety schemes’ are retained in the council’s programme of work for the coming year.

It had been feared that some School Safety Zones were to be deferred in order to free up funds for urgent road repairs, needed to address damage caused by the worst winter weather conditions for three decades.

However as a result of a funding package just announced, all of the planned School Safety Zones will now go ahead.

Henry said: “School Safety Zones are one of the council’s flagship schemes, having won ‘Pathfinder’ status from the Department for Transport to develop the new initiative some years ago.

“Whilst fixing the roads is our number one highways priority at the moment it is also important that we do all we can to protect these vital safety schemes. This funding package means we can do both.”

The County Council has announced it is to invest £15 million in permanent repairs of its roads. £5m is made up of existing road maintenance budgets and £1.3m has come from a government grant. A further £8.7m has come from delaying some Highway schemes and by using capital grants and funding more flexibly.

Derek Whittington, West Sussex Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “It’s important that we strike a balance between doing what is needed to repair our roads, while still keeping as many other projects as possible in our work programme.

“I am very pleased that so many children will be able to benefit from these excellent schemes which enhance the perception of safety and improve traffic conditions around schools.”

School Safety Zones include:

• An advisory 20mph speed limit at drop off and pick-up times.

• Flashing lights to warn drivers of the advisory limit, and that they are close to a school.

• New road lines and markings near the school gates.

Crawley Controlled Parking Zone to be extended

Parking restrictions in Crawley are to be extended into the Three Bridges area after concerns were raised about congestion and a lack of parking spaces.

A consultation was held last year into whether to extend the town’s Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) after concerns were expressed by residents and businesses.

The majority of people who responded supported the move, which is designed to ease congestion, improve safety and make it easier for residents and their visitors to park.

The CPZ will move into the area between the town centre and Three Bridges railway station on April 12.

Henry Smith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “For many years, residents, visitors, shoppers, students, commuters and people who work in the town centre, as well as Three Bridges, have competed for the limited on-street parking space, which in turn has caused severe parking problems.

“The CPZ is designed to prevent all day on-street commuter parking, making it easier for shoppers, residents and their visitors to park. It will also improve road safety and remove obstructions to people’s driveways by eliminating indiscriminate parking.”

The scheme will be enforced and administered by Crawley Borough Council under the new Civil Parking Enforcement arrangements, which come into effect on the same day.

The scheme will operate using a combination of permit parking, pay and display, voucher parking and free limited waiting.

After its introduction, a two-week period will follow where warning notices will be issued to any vehicles parked illegally instead of penalty charge notices. This will allow residents, and others, to get used to the changes.

The impact of the new zone will be monitored and further measures proposed in other areas if needed.

Thousands of new street lights on their way to West Sussex

A multi million pound makeover of West Sussex street lights is about to get underway.

More than 68,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards are to be replaced or upgraded over the next five years as part of the biggest street light project in the country.

Old equipment over 15 years old will be replaced with modern, energy-saving lights, which will reduce carbon emissions by up to 25 per cent.

New technology will also allow the lights to be dimmed or turned off completely after midnight if the light is no longer required.

West Sussex County Council hopes the improved visibility the upgrade will bring will not only increase road safety but will also make the streets feel safer and reduce levels of crime.

Henry Smith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “Many of our lights are old and in need of replacement and this contract gives us a great opportunity to not only do that but also to upgrade the lights with modern state-of-the-art equipment.”

The work is part of 25-year contract West Sussex County Council has signed in partnership with Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council. The Private Finance Initiative is worth £225 million – the largest of its kind in the country.

Derek Whittington, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “Everyone will see benefits when the new lights are introduced, not only in terms of road safety but also in making our streets feel safer. Less light pollution and lower energy costs are some of the other plus points.”

Work is being carried out by Tay Valley Lighting Ltd, using its contractor Southern Electric Contracting.

Go green with Taste West Sussex

Find out how to go organic, have a green wedding and grow your own veg with the spring 2010 edition of Taste West Sussex – out now.

The magazine is for West Sussex foodies and promotes locally produced food and drink.

Articles in the current edition include:

• Crazy for cupcakes – read about the popular cupcake and find out how it’s had a revamp over the years.

• Green weddings – if you’re getting married go green this year – there’s ideas for food, gifts and flowers.

• Going organic – organic food has remained popular during the recession. Find out why and where to go organic in West Sussex.

• Luscious local lamb – it’s a sign that spring is here when Sussex-raised lamb appears in the shops. Find out about the different cuts available and try a recipe for shoulder of lamb.

• Walk this way – enjoy a walk and a pint in Steyning.

• The ancient game of skittles and where to play it in West Sussex pubs.

• Grow your own – how to brush up on your gardening skills, some top tips and local cookery courses.

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Communications Brad Watson OBE said: “A new addition to this issue is reader’s recipes – where readers send us their favourite recipes using locally produced produce.

“Taste West Sussex has established itself as a well-known and well-respected publication working to promote our local food and drink producers.”

Readers can subscribe to Taste West Sussex and receive three issues delivered to their door for just £8.50. Subscribers also receive a free ‘bag of Taste’ environmentally friendly jute bag. They normally cost £2.95 each, or two for £5.

Subscribers also become a member of the Good Taste Club, receiving special discounts and competitions, and the ‘Tastemail’ – an electronic newsletter with foodie dates, competitions and recipes.

Taste West Sussex is available from a number of outlets including local food retailers. You can also read it online as an interactive e-publication with quick and easy links to other websites at www.westsussex.gov.uk/taste.

For further information contact 01243 777431, e-mail taste@westsussex.gov.uk or visit the website.

The next issue will be out in early June and will celebrate Sussex Day (June 16).

Advice shop praised by County Council

Crawley Advice Shop has been praised by West Sussex County Council Leader Henry Smith after a successful six months in business.

The Advice Shop opened in the County Mall, Crawley, in September 2009. It’s managed by Crawley Citizens Advice Bureau and supported by Crawley Borough Council.

County Council Leader Henry Smith said: “The service has helped more than 2,600 clients since opening. West Sussex County Council supported the scheme with £10,000 funding from our Keep West Sussex Working initiative, set up to help residents and businesses through the recession.

“The Advice Shop has gone from strength to strength and I would like to congratulate everyone involved.”

It brings together a one-stop shop with organisations including the Citizens Advice Bureau, Shelter, Crawley Borough Council, JobCentre Plus, Next Steps, West Sussex Credit Union, Central Sussex College, Crawley Council for Voluntary Services, Relate and Business Link.

All sorts of advice can be given including around skills and training, jobs, benefits and housing, finance and debts, volunteering and business.

The shop is open Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm and the first Saturday of the month.

For further information contact 01293 657100, e-mail julian.paszkiewicz@westsussexcab.org.uk or visit the website at www.crawleycab.co.uk

Broadfield Stadium leased to Crawley Town FC

Crawley Borough Council has agreed a deal to support the long-term future of Crawley Town Football Club.

The council has agreed to lease Broadfield Stadium to the club, enabling the club to manage its own pitch maintenance, cleaning and utilities, which will help ensure its sustainability.

Clubs and groups across the town are being encouraged to take more responsibility for their facilities and assets while working in partnership with the council.

The council is looking forward to working in partnership with the club to further develop the established Football in the Community Scheme, providing opportunities for people to get involved in local football as players, coaches, officials and supporters.

Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services,

said: “I’m keen to support the longer-term sustainability of the football club and have gained confidence that the new owners are managing the club in a professional way as well as their assurances to be a true community club.

“This is why we have committed to this lease agreement. I’m keen that organisations like Crawley Town FC take greater control and ownership of their resources.”

Bruce Winfield who negotiated the arrangement for the football club and is a major shareholder at Crawley Town FC, said: “We’re very pleased with this new agreement and how supportive the council has been in these negotiations.

“It shows following a rigorous process the new-found confidence that the council has in the new directors and management in place at Crawley Town FC.”

New Library opening hours to start in May

Opening hours for West Sussex Libraries are to change from May 10, after more than 10,000 people across the county responded to a three-week customer consultation. They were asked to comment on preferred patterns of opening, and were also invited to two-hour ‘surgeries’ held by senior managers in each of the county’s 36 libraries.

The new hours create a harmonised opening pattern across the county, and focus on times when people most want to use their Libraries. It means all are now open six days a week including lunch hours – some Libraries were previously open only on five days. The actual hours at each library vary in response to local factors, most importantly the preferences local people expressed during the consultation.

The changes in opening hours mean that money has been freed up to invest in libraries. Previous consultation has shown high demand for things like self service and drop off points. These service improvements will be introduced as soon as possible in the coming months following the changes to opening hours.

“We are confident that within the constraints of delivering an affordable service, the new opening hours are tailored to reflect customer choice,” said Brad Watson, County Council Cabinet Member who oversees Libraries. “Our customers value the fact that their preferences and views were considered. This was very evident at the surgeries.” A senior team carefully analysed the results of the consultation, and built many of these into the final decisions.

“These are tough economic times, but unlike in other parts of the country all of our Libraries have remained open,” continued Brad. “We are looking at all other aspects of the service, to see how we can become more efficient, and provide even better service to our customers.”

The new opening hours will be:

Chichester, Worthing, Crawley Horsham:

Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturdays 9am to 5pm.

Bognor Regis, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath:

Monday: 9.30am to 7pm

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9.30am to 6pm Friday, Saturday: 9.30am to 5pm

Burgess Hill:

Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 5.30pm

Saturday: 10am to 4pm

Lancing:

Monday to Friday: 10am to 6pm

Saturday 10am to 4pm

Littlehampton and Shoreham:

Monday: 10am to 7pm

Tuesday to Thursday: 10am to 6pm

Friday: 10am to 5pm

Saturday: 10am to 4pm

Storrington:

Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 5.30pm

Saturday 10am to 4pm

Billingshurst, Broadfield, Durrington, Goring, Henfield, Midhurst, Rustington, Selsey, Southwick, Steyning, Willowhale:

Monday to Friday: 10am to 5pm

Saturday: 10am to 2pm

Angmering:

Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm

Saturday: 9am to 1pm

Arundel and Broadwater:

Monday to Wednesday: 1pm to 5pm

Thursday to Saturday: 9am to 1pm

East Preston:

Monday to Wednesday: 1pm to 5pm

Thursday to Saturday: 10am to 2pm

Ferring:

Monday to Thursday: 9am to 1pm

Friday: 1pm to 5pm

Saturday: 9am to 1pm

Findon Valley:

Monday to Wednesday: 1pm to 5pm

Thursday to Saturday: 9am to 1pm

Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint:

Monday to Wednesday: 9am to 1pm

Thursday and Friday: 1pm to 5pm

Saturday: 9am to 1pm

Petworth, Pulborough, Southwater, Witterings:

Monday to Wednesday: 1pm to 5pm

Thursday to Saturday: 9am to 1pm

Southbourne:

Monday to Friday: 1pm to 5pm

Saturday: 9am to 1pm

Parking changes on the way

Crawley Borough Council will take over the enforcement of parking regulations on the roads in Crawley and in the Town Hall and Orchard Street off-street car parks on April 12.

Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) is the implementation of on and off-street parking restrictions by civil enforcement officers.

CPE enables the income from Penalty Charge Notices to be used to fund the enforcement operation and it moves infringements of parking regulations from criminal law to civil law.

The officers are employed by Crawley Borough Council in conjunction with West Sussex County Council and their role incorporates the work currently carried out by traffic wardens.

Civil enforcement officers will enforce:

• All the existing parking restrictions on the road which are

currently enforced by traffic wardens

• Parking regulations in the two multi-storey pay and display car

parks operated by Crawley Borough Council

• The resident permit schemes in Controlled Parking Zones.

There are no new parking restrictions being introduced directly as a result of CPE.

Councillor Keith Blake, Cabinet member for Environmental Services, said:

“The introduction of CPE in Crawley will enable existing parking restrictions to be enforced more effectively. It also brings benefits in terms of road safety and improved parking for residents and businesses.

“The vast majority of people, who park sensibly, will not notice any change, except for less congestion on the streets.”

Motorists who contravene parking regulations and restrictions will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). This will set out details of the vehicle and contravention that has taken place, the amount that needs to be paid and the ways in which the penalty charge can be paid.

There are two levels of penalty charges depending on the seriousness of the offence. These are currently £70 for serious offences and £50 for less serious offences. These charges are reduced by 50 per cent if they are paid within 14 days. Charges will also increase by 50 per cent if they remain unpaid or uncontested after 28 days.

Ultimately unpaid debts may be recovered by bailiffs. Money from PCNs goes towards the costs of running the service. If there are any funds remaining after these costs have been met, the surplus is ringfenced by law to be spent on local transport projects.

For more information visit www.crawley.gov.uk/parking, call Parking Services at the Town Hall on 01293 438312 or 01293 438218 or email comments@crawley.gov.uk

Easter Soccer School

Crawley Borough Council is working with Crawley Sports Academy to provide a three-day soccer school at the 3G pitch in Broadfield.

The course, on the all-weather surface next to Broadfield Stadium, runs from April 7-9 and will provide three days of fun activity for young people aged six to 12 culminating in a day of fun games on Friday April 9.

The course runs from 9.30am-3.30pm and costs £36 for all three days or £14 per day.

For more information contact Simon Pearce on 01293 585350 or email simon.pearce@crawley.gov.uk

“You’re heroes,” radio station tells firefighters

SIX members of the West Sussex County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s Technical Rescue Unit (TRU) have scooped a Mercury FM Local Hero Award.

The radio station presents the awards in recognition of outstanding local individuals and organisations from across Sussex and Surrey.

The six members of the TRU received their award for the part they played in the UK’s 64-strong International Search and Rescue Mission in earthquake-hit Haiti. They spent 10 days in the capital, Port-au-Prince, after it was devastated.

The award was received at the Effingham Park Hotel, Copthorne, Crawley, by:

• Station Manager St John Stanley (who lives in Billingshurst).

• Crew Manager Chris Kemp (Horsham).

• Firefighters Peter Thorpe-Hinks (Steyning) Brian Vincent (Worthing), Rob Negus (Hove) and Mick Lewin (Billingshurst).

St John Stanley said: “We don’t really consider ourselves to be heroes. We were just doing our job to the best of our abilities. The real heroes were the Haitian people.”

Henry Smith, Leader, West Sussex County Council, said: “They carried out a difficult job in difficult conditions. It was a magnificent team effort and they are, indeed, true local heroes. Congratulations to them all.”

West Sussex invests £15m in permanent road repairs

West Sussex County Council is to spend £15 million on permanent repairs for its roads.

Following the worst winter weather for some 30 years the condition of the county’s roads has deteriorated dramatically.

By the end of March the County Council will have repaired over 20,000 potholes since the beginning of the year, with 30 teams repairing up to 500 potholes per day.

Most of the repairs have been temporary as this is the best way to quickly make the road safe and keep up with the number of holes that are still appearing on a daily basis. However, a programme of permanent repairs is now underway.

County Council Leader, Henry Smith, said: “The last two winters have had a devastating impact on our roads. The independent Audit Commission has previously rated our roads among the best in the country. However, after the recent severe weather we have been left with roads that need serious and sustained work.

“We want to return the roads to the best condition residents rightly expect but to do this we need to find a substantial amount of money to fund permanent and lasting repairs.

“The Cabinet has therefore decided to defer some schemes from the planned programme of Highways and Transport works for 2010/11 and use the money to pay for permanent repairs on our roads.”

The decision means many non-urgent schemes will be delayed while money is diverted towards permanent road repairs such as resurfacing, deep patching and surface dressing.

West Sussex Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, Derek Whittington, said: “The volume of correspondence I have received has convinced me that we need to make road repairs the over-riding priority for next year’s capital programme.

“Giving priority to the damage repair will ensure our roads are safe, provide overall value for money and ensure County Council funds are used in the most efficient way. Without this we could face a larger repair bill through progressive deterioration.

“It is important to understand that schemes have been deferred and not cancelled. However, due to the unprecedented deterioration of the roads over the last two years I feel we must take this action.”

Details of the £15m funding package are as follows:

• £5m from existing road maintenance budgets.

• £8.7m from delaying some schemes and by using capital grants and funding more flexibly.

• £1.3m in government grant.

Henry added: “The surprise announcement from government last week that we are to receive some funding towards road repairs is welcome, although it should be remembered that for the past few years they have cut around £2m per annum from our highways grant.

“The funding package means that we are able to go ahead with all of the School Safety Zones planned for many areas of the county.”

Make sure you have a vote

Thursday May 6 is election day in Crawley.

Eleven seats on Crawley Borough Council are up for grabs in the borough elections. It is possible that the parliamentary poll will also be held on the same day. This vote will elect the town’s MP.

This year there are elections in every council ward except Gossops Green, Three Bridges and Tilgate. This is because the council is elected in thirds, which means that the council holds elections in three years out of four, with a few different wards not having an election each year.

Elections are your chance to influence the way your town is run. It’s your democratic right to vote for the candidates of your choice. But only those who are on the electoral register by April 20 will be able to vote.

A letter was sent to all households at the end of February asking if any changes need to be made to the list of people registered to vote. Forms are also available at www.crawley.gov.uk/elections and these must be returned by April 20 to be valid for election(s) on May 6.

You can vote in person at your local polling station or opt for postal or proxy votes. There is still time to apply for postal or proxy votes, but you’ll need to contact us as soon as possible because the deadline is April 20 for postal votes and proxy votes.

Everyone who is entitled to vote in the elections will receive a polling card three or four weeks before. This gives details of where your polling station is and your poll number but you don’t have to take it to the polling station with you.

For more information contact Andrew Oakley, Electoral Services Manager, on

01293 438346 or andrew.oakley@crawley.gov.uk

Crawley needs more magistrates.

Magistrates are ordinary people who perform a vital role for the community.

They come from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds and occupations:

postmen, teachers, shop assistants and train drivers – anyone can be a magistrate. But what they have in common is high personal integrity and a commitment to serve their community.

Kevin Harrison JP, Chairman Sussex (Northern) Advisory Sub-Committee, said:

“What is not widely realised is that magistrates play a key role in the judicial process and hear more than 95 per cent of all criminal cases, including many that affect the public, such as anti-social behavior.

“It is really important that magistrates reflect the local community. We’ve gone a long way to achieve that in north Sussex but we are always on the lookout for more people. Selection is based purely on merit regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.”

An open mind, maturity and the ability to work well with others are more important than any formal qualifications. You need to be aged 18-64 who can commit to a minimum of 26 half-day sittings per year. In return you’ll get full training, and a responsible and satisfying role.

If you are interested in becoming a magistrate, please contact Mid-Sussex Magistrates’ Court (Administration Office) on 01444 472603 who will be happy to give you more information. Alternatively, go to www.direct.gov.uk and search ‘magistrates’ for an application form.

Crawley wins top environmental award

Tidy town Crawley has won a national award from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

Crawley Borough Council gained the ‘Engaging Communities’ accolade at the Keep Britain Tidy award ceremony in Manchester on Monday night.

The award represents the hard work and commitment shown by the council, particularly the Amenity Services team, and is largely thanks to the hugely successful Let’s FACE it! campaign, which has seen thousands of people from across the town spruce up their neighbourhoods through hundreds of projects.

Let’s FACE it! is a resident-led volunteering initiative, co-ordinated by Crawley Borough Council officer Ruth Growney, and involving local councillors, aimed at improving the local environment.

Cabinet member for Community Engagement, Councillor Nigel Boxall, said:

“This is brilliant! And it’s not just credit to Crawley Council, it’s Crawley people who really made this happen by embracing the campaign and showing the desire to make a difference to their environment.”

Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, Councillor Lenny Walker,

said: “I’m delighted that our Let’s FACE it! campaign is central to yet another award, especially because it’s a great boost to the start of our Britain in Bloom campaign.

“We’ve won this award because our community is central to Let’s FACE it!

This is also paramount in Britain in Bloom so let’s hope this is start of an amazing year!”

Cabinet member for Environmental Services, Councillor Keith Blake, said:

“The council works extremely hard to make Crawley cleaner, greener and safer. This award is yet more recognition for all of this as well as our innovative Let’s FACE it! campaign.”

The awards-cum-conference celebrated local authorities who are examples of environmental excellence while looking at the future of local environmental quality.

Sonia Scowcroft, Keep Britain Tidy’s Cleaner Safer Greener Network Manager,

said: “These prestigious awards provided a great opportunity for Keep Britain Tidy to recognise and reward the excellent work taking place across the country.”

Keep Britain Tidy is an environmental charity and the anti-litter campaign for England. It also runs programmes like the Green Flag for parks and the Quality Coast Awards for beaches.

For more information about the Let’s FACE it! campaign, including how to get involved, log on to www.crawley.gov.uk/face

For more information about Keep Britain Tidy log on to www.keepbritaintidy.org

Don’t be had by ad scams, small businesses warned

SMALL businesses in West Sussex are being warned to beware of advertising scams involving directory entries or calendar space.

The call comes from West Sussex County Council Trading Standards Service, which has received a growing number of complaints from small businesses.

The businesses say they are being pursued for payment for advertising in directories or calendars they did not agree to or in the end was not provided.

“It is very hard to take formal action against these companies because our Trading Standards Service has to prove they either never had any intention of producing the publication or that they deliberately took money for the ‘wrong’ – that is, more expensive – category of advertising,” said Peter Evans, County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection.

“We are urging businesses not to agree to advertising space on the phone as a result of an unsolicited call. Tell them you will think about it and ask to see a copy of the current version of the directory/calendar. A reputable firm should have no objection to this.

“Even if they do send you a copy of what they produce, check with one of the firms that advertise on it that they were happy with the service.”

Another recent development is the scammers are starting to threaten legal action against the business to recover the debt allegedly owed, warning of consequences to their credit rating unless they pay.

“In the current climate many firms pay rather than challenge the action,” said Peter.

West Sussex greengrocers pass fruit and veg test

GREENGROCERS in West Sussex have been given the green light following a fruit and veg investigation by the County Council’s Trading Standards Service.

Trading Standards Officers inspected around 75 per cent of greengrocers in West Sussex to check that food was safe and correctly described.

Peter Aston, Trading Standards Team Leader, said: “We found that all of the claims indicating products were local or organic were correct.

“We took samples of a variety of different fruits and vegetables to test them for pesticide residue and found no detectable levels of pesticide on any of the samples.

“Pesticides are approved by the Government and rigorous safety assessments are undertaken to make sure any residues remaining on crops are not harmful. However, it is always a good idea to wash fruit and vegetables before you eat them.”

Peter Evans, County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “These are very pleasing and reassuring results. They will give our residents confidence that food bought from their valued local greengrocer is correctly described and safe to eat.”

Records topple again in West Sussex Youth Cabinet elections

RECORDS were smashed for the ninth year running in the West Sussex County Council Youth Cabinet and UK Youth Parliament elections.

Between March 1 and 15, 35,789 votes were cast compared with last year’s record shattering 24,582 votes.

That means one in four young people aged between 11 and 19 in West Sussex took part, voting online for 205 candidates standing for 48 seats throughout the county.

Elections Manager Claire Bridges, a former Youth Cabinet Member, said: “As this fantastic result shows, all of the candidates worked exceptionally hard when it came to campaigning.

“I’m sure politicians from all parties would like to see such enthusiasm for the democratic process reflected in the General Election.”

Brad Watson OBE, County Council Cabinet Member responsible for the Youth Cabinet, said: “The Elections Team, who are themselves a committed group of young people, are to be congratulated for this excellent turn out. It shows our young people are firmly on the democracy map!”

“The 48 successful candidates will now work alongside County Hall decision makers to activate change in issues affecting the lives of young people in West Sussex.

“The Youth Cabinet is elected from a diverse range of backgrounds. Not only secondary and middle schools in West Sussex, but also drawn from youth centres, private schools, special schools, voluntary organisations, colleges and Pupil Referral Units.”

A record was also set with the County Democracy Awards, which the Youth Cabinet launched last year and are based on the percentage of a school or college voting.

Twelve scooped a Gold Award (90 per cent voter turn out), three won a Silver Award (70 per cent) and two gained a Bronze Award (50 per cent). They were:

Gold:

• Newick House Special School, Burgess Hill.

• Chichester High School for Girls.

• Bourne Community College, Emsworth.

• Manhood Community College.

• Davison High C of E High School for Girls, Worthing.

• St Andrew’s C of E High School for Boys, Worthing

• Sackville School, East Grinstead.

• Downlands Community School, Hassocks.

• Durrington Middle School.

• Thomas A Beckett Middle School, Worthing.

• Court Meadow Special School, Haywards Heath.

• Farlington School.

Silver:

• Shoreham Academy.

• Thomas Bennett Community College, Crawley, Crawley.

• Millais School, Horsham.

Bronze:

• Worthing College

• Sir Robert Woodard Academy, Lancing.