We, the residents and local electors of Shoreham by Sea, are concerned about the future of community governance in our town. Shoreham has formed a large part of Adur District Council and the voices of Shoreham residents were heard.
However, with the government white paper, English Devolution, that is all set to change. No longer will the population of Shoreham make up about one third of the local authority. New "Unitary Authorities" will take the place of the current two-tier local government model. Based on the recommendations, either the whole of West Sussex or half, Shoreham will be either 2.5% or 5% of the local authority - very little voice in what matters to the residents of Shoreham by Sea.
With these big changes in the next two years, we believe that it is time for a review of the community governance structure in Shoreham to ensure that the voices of our community are heard, and our needs are addressed.
We are conducting a valid petition for a Community Governance review of Shoreham by Sea - the area covered by the following five wards that make up Shoreham by Sea - Buckingham, St Nicolas, St Mary's, Marine and Southlands.
We call on Adur District Council to initiate a Community Governance Review for Shoreham by Sea, with the aim of improving transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in decision-making. A community governance review for Shoreham by Sea should cover a range of issues, including the number of councillors per ward.
Creating a Town Council would allow local people to set a precept (Council tax). And that precept would be spent on local services in the town of Shoreham by Sea. Not added to the spending pot of a much larger Unitary Authority. N.B. Under the current arrangements, parished areas, such as Lancing, have their District Council Tax reduced to take into account the precept payment made to Lancing Parish.
We believe that a community governance review is crucial to give the people of Shoreham by Sea a voice in the governance of our town. We call on Adur District Council to take immediate action to commence a community governance review of Shoreham by Sea. The legislation in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 enables to give the community a say on the governance of Shoreham by Sea.
Why is this important?
This petition is important because it calls for a review of the community governancestructure in Shoreham by Sea - at a time when Unitary Authorities are being created which would dilute the say Shoreham residents have in the way the town is run. A Town Council with the aim of improving transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in decision-making.
The community must have a say in the governance of Shoreham, and community governance review would provide an opportunity for the community to be heard and have a meaningful say in decision-making.
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There has been talk of forming Local Area Committees or Forums - these would have no budget, no democratic mandate and no power to do anything - just make recommendations to the huge Unitary Authority - which they could choose to ignore! Some residents might remember the Adur County Local Forums - these became a place for residents to ask questions, but not a place to affect policy, decisions or actions of West Sussex County Council. On the other hand, a Shoreham Town Council would be made up of elected Shoreham locals, who could make decisions about the town we love in a democratic way
How it will be delivered
To trigger a Community Governance Review this Petition requires the signatures of 7.5% of Shoreham residents registered to vote in Shoreham. This is approximately 1,275 signatures - however, we aim to exceed this figure as the signatures need to be validated and some may, for one reason or another, be invalid when checked by Council Officers. We're aiming for at least 1,500 signatures to allow a reasonable margin.
Once the required number of valid signatures is reached the petition will be handed to the monitoring officer of Adur District Council who will have a legal duty to commence a Community Governance Review. Furthermore, a 2014 amendment to the 2007 Act states "Article 10 amends the time period that the principal council has to conclude the community governance review. This is reduced from 12 months starting on the day the review begins, to 12 months from the day of receipt of the petition or application."
This timing means that the Community Governance Review would be completed well before "Vesting Day", 4th May 2028, when it is planned that Adur District Council will cease to exist and the Unitary Authority take responsibility for local Government.