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Dear Resident,
With Christmas approaching, I am sending my best wishes and a final newsletter for the year.
We have had some very good news for the Bexhill and Battle constituency this year. Rother District Council was awarded a total of £60 million in levelling up funds. I have long championed Rother as an area which needs more government investment and support to ensure that all its residents have equal and fair access to good education, skills, employment and affordable housing. I have endlessly repeated this call to senior colleagues in government and worked with local stakeholders to make the case for direct government investment and intervention. This year, it finally paid off when we were awarded three lots of funding worth £20m each - Levelling Up Fund, Levelling Up Partnership and the Long-Term Plan for Towns for Bexhill. It was like all our Christmases coming at once and made all the hard work and lobbying from everyone who was involved absolutely worth it.
Anyone who lives here knows that this constituency is a great place to live, work and play but there are real areas of deprivation, inequality and low wages which we need to address to ensure our local economy thrives and provides opportunities for all generations. I am very excited about the future and look forward to being closely involved with the delivery of many projects which will have a direct and positive impact on people's lives.
Many advice centres, charities and community organisations exist only thanks to the efforts of local volunteers. I should therefore like to send a special message of thanks to everyone who has volunteered in some way this year. The difference you make to your community and the lives of local people is immeasurable. To all those who represent their local area on parish, town, district and county councils, thank you too for your service. Your work makes things happen and I know it can be tough in these days of social media.
Finally, I extend my thanks to everyone who will be working this Christmas and New Year. This includes all those in the emergency services, public sector, NHS and care sector, utilities and other essential services who remain on call over the Christmas period to help those in need or in times of crisis.
Best wishes to you all,
Huw
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Northeye Update
I meet regularly with the Home Office 'Detained Sites' team for updates on the proposed Northeye illegal migration centre. Under this proposal, residents will not be able to come and go from the centre. At present, on-site surveys continue and are likely to do so into the new year.
A new 24/7 security team has been appointed by the Home Office and work to ensure the site is safe and secure is ongoing. Local statutory stakeholders including our councils, NHS, police and fire service meet regularly with the Home Office to discuss progress and to plan ahead for potential next steps.
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Update on Industrial Action on the Railways
Passengers and rail workers alike will be pleased that RMT members accepted the offer from train operating companies and settled the ongoing dispute.
The deal is fair and reasonable for both rail employees and the taxpayer, ensuring workers receive a pay rise whilst allowing the industry to undertake the reforms necessary to ensure the railways are sustainable going forward.
ASLEF should now follow in the footsteps of the RMT and give their members a say on an offer that would take train drivers’ salaries to £65,000 in return for reforms to reduce delays and cancellations.
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NHS Sussex Update
Last Friday, East Sussex MPs received an update from our local NHS Integrated Care Board (NHS Sussex). We discussed the winter pressures facing the NHS and the forthcoming junior doctor strikes. As with every winter, it's important that we choose the most appropriate NHS service for our needs and only use 999 and A&E or Emergency Departments for serious or life-threatening emergencies. We also need to remember to order repeat prescriptions in good time.
More information here
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Visit to Heathfield Community College
It was a pleasure to welcome Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, to meet Headteacher, Caroline Barlow and the staff and students of Heathfield Community College at the beginning of December. After touring the school, Gillian joined the School Council for their discussions on the role of AI in education. Read more here
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Autumn Statement 2023
Last month, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled his Autumn Statement. Measures included raising the Living Wage and protecting the pension Triple Lock.
I was particularly pleased that the Local Housing Allowance is to be unfrozen and increased to 30% of local rents from April. This is something I pushed for during private discussions with the Chancellor ahead of his Statement.
For more information on what was included in the Autumn Statement, please visit my website here.
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Local Transport Plan -
Have Your Say
East Sussex County Council has published its draft Local Transport Plan 2024-2050 that sets out how they will plan and provide transport for residents, businesses, and visitors in East Sussex now and in the future.
Residents have until 25 February 2024 to have their say on the proposals. For further information and to respond to the consultation, click here.
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Israel-Hamas Conflict
I know that many residents remain concerned about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. I continue to keep my website updated regularly with the latest news and information here.
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Supporting Older People's Mental Wellbeing
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has launched a campaign aimed at tackling emotional wellbeing in older adults. People who may be struggling are being urged to talk to somebody they trust. Whether you are feeling anxious, sad, lonely, depressed, or you are grieving, it is important to know that help is out there. You can find out more information here.
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Observer Article - Supporting Farmers and Rural Businesses
Following the two rural roundtables I organised last month, I wrote about how we can better support our farmers and rural businesses across Rother. You can read my article here.
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Annual Health and Welfare Review of Livestock
I am pleased that Defra has recently announced that the annual health and welfare review is now open to non-BPS registered farmers, meaning that more livestock keepers in England can now apply. Through the Review, farmers who keep cattle, sheep and pigs can get funding to pay for a vet to visit their farm and carry out a yearly review.
For more information, click here.
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Bewl Water Siphoning Project
I recently met Kerry Burton, the Construction and Delivery Lead for Southern Water's £30million upgrade of Bewl reservoir. Three large hydraulic siphons are being installed at the north end of the reservoir. This project will allow reduction of water level of the reservoir more quickly, if needed. This may be needed during exceptionally heavy rainfall, or to carry out repairs to the dam and secures the long-term resilience of the reservoir.
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Sussex Resilience Forum
Last Friday, I joined Sussex MPs for our second meeting with the Sussex Resilience Forum. This time we met on Teams for an update on all the work which the Forum has been doing to ensure that all of Sussex is prepared for major events, such as storms, flooding or major public health issues.
After Storm Eunice in 2022, I, and fellow Sussex MPs, called for clearer and stronger working relationships between emergency services, local councils and organisations such as water and power companies which make up the resilience forum. We also asked for better public and stakeholder communications. This latest update from the SFR highlighted that the feedback was positively received and taken on board. Actions taken by the SRF ahead and during Storm Ciaran this autumn demonstrated that there are much better communications between all parties and is testament to the hard work that has been done.
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Rother Rural Roundtable
At the end of November, Sally-Ann Hart and I organised a Rother Rural Roundtable. The roundtable brought together representatives from rural and farming businesses with councillors and council officers from Rother District Council. We discussed issues including planning, regeneration and recruitment. All of these bring challenges for rural enterprise but it was also good to find out about opportunities and learn from each other. More details can be found here
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Visit to Claverham Community College
At the beginning of December, I was delighted to invite Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, to Claverham Community College for a tour of the new school building and to meet the student leadership team. The new school has been well-designed to meet the needs of modern school life. It was great to hear such positive feedback from Headteacher, Mr Swatton, and the staff and students.
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Supporting Community Pharmacies
I was pleased to be invited to meet the team at Sidley Pharmacy by the new pharmacist, Mr Sukhy Uppal. We discussed the operational issues of running a busy community pharmacy and the daily pressures which the staff face. One issue which was difficult to hear was the poor treatment of pharmacy staff by a minority of the public. The pharmacy team are all trained to help and provide advice, not just the pharmacist. They are dedicated to their jobs, supporting patients and the NHS. I have pledged to support them in their vital roles in our community.
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Government Funding Boost for Local Swimming Pools
Bexhill Leisure Pool and the swimming pool at Rye Sports Centre are both to receive grants of more than £64,000 from a Government fund to help ensure people continue to have the opportunity to swim locally.
I know many people value swimming, for both their physical and mental wellbeing, and I am delighted that we are to receive this valuable Government support.
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Observer Article - Levelling Up and the Railways
In my Observer article last week, I wrote about the Levelling Up investment we have secured locally over the past year, and what I have been working on in my role as Rail Minister in 2023. You can read my article in full on my website here.
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Visit to Glenleigh Park Academy
My final school visit during UK Parliament Week was to Glenleigh Park Primary Academy in Bexhill. I was privileged to join the whole school assembly to talk about my role as a Member of Parliament and then to congratulate and present certificates to the newly elected School Council and Eco Council representatives for every class. It was an absolute pleasure to be involved in the assembly and see just how proud the school representatives were to have been chosen by their classmates. Thank you to Headteacher Mrs Pocock and Deputy Ms Barnard and all the staff and pupils for making me so welcome.
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Criminal Justice and Sentencing
Two important pieces of legislation announced in the King's Speech had their second readings in the House of Commons this month. The Criminal Justice Bill and the Sentencing Bill seek to keep communities safe by strengthening the police and introducing tougher sentencing. I know that this a key concern for many residents and so I have published explainers on each of the Bills on my website which you can find here and here.
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Observer Article - A Busy Few Weeks in Parliament
In a recent Observer article, I wrote about what I have been working on in Parliament since the King's Speech. You can read my article in full here.
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Bewl Water Sports Clubs
At the beginning of this year, I attended a meeting with Bewl Water sports clubs, Southern Water and Bewl Events. The meeting was to discuss the longer-term security and facilities for the private members clubs which use Bewl Water for rowing, canoeing, sailing and mariners. There had been concerns about access and ability to improve their facilities.
Last week I was pleased to attend an update meeting with all the groups with my good neighbour and colleague Nus Ghani MP (Bewl Water is in both our constituencies). We were pleased to hear that good progress had been made and, whilst there are still some issues to be resolved, the constructive dialogue from both sides continues and we look forward to a positive final outcome for these fantastic local sports clubs.
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Financial advice and support
It has been a challenging year following sharp increases in the cost of living as a result of recovery from Covid and the Ukraine war. Inflation is now at its lowest point in the last two years and is expected to continue to fall. However, the impact of high prices has had lasting consequences for many and this means Christmas can be a time of financial worry and stress.
If you, or someone you know is experiencing financial difficulties or debt. The following local organisations and websites can help:
CAP - Christians Against Poverty
Citizens Advice 1066
Stepchange
Moneyhelper
MoneySavingExpert
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