Search Results

Join us for our fully-funded 5 week family learning courses (organised by West Sussex County Council), aimed at parents/guardians and their children, at Beeson House. Mini Movers - Tuesdays - Starts 11th November - 10am-12pm Explore, learn and grow through play whilst enhancing your child's motor skills. > BOOK HERE Sing, Say, Play - Wednesdays - Starts 12th November - 10am-12pm Discover a variety of fun ways to encourage and develop language and communication. > BOOK HERE Communication Club - Wednesdays - Starts 12th November - 1pm-2:30pm Feel empowered to support your child with speech and communication challenges. > BOOK HERE How To Help Your Child With Learning In KS1 - Thursdays - Starts 13th November - 10am-12pm Confidently support your Key Stage 1 children with phonics, reading, and maths at home. > BOOK HERE

Nature in Sussex is under pressure. Two new strategies aim to change that - and you can help shape them by giving your views on the latest survey launched by West Sussex County Council. WSCC is working with partners to develop a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for West Sussex to support their work on nature and environment within the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. The proposed strategy sets out how local habitats can be restored and enhanced, how wildlife can be supported, and how to make nature more accessible in towns and cities based on input from residents, farmers, and community groups. The strategy is based on 7 driving principles, listing 24 priorities, and has over 100 practical actions that can be taken. Please help by looking at the draft strategy, exploring the habitat maps, and submitting your views via the consultation to help guide the approach. The consultation will run for six weeks and closes on 25 November 2025. Access the consultation here and submit your views.

To view the Planning Committee Meeting Agenda, please visit our website here: Planning Committee Meeting  or view the agenda on the noticeboard situated outside Beeson House.

Would you like to meet your councillors? Or the Neighbourhood wardens ? Have you got questions about Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation ? Would you like to discuss our latest survey? Or there is something else you wish to talk about? Why not come along to our councillor surgery? The next one is taking place face to face on Saturday 1st November 2025 from 10:00AM in the Parish Chamber at Beeson House. This is a great opportunity for you to speak with your Parish, District and County Councillors and raise any queries/concerns and share ideas you may have, or just to have a chat. This time, the local Neighbourhood wardens, Bettina and Dom will be at the surgery too. See you at 10AM on Saturday!

Please see the current & upcoming road works for the next couple of weeks: Southwater Street 27 October - 29 October Works: Utility Repair and Maintenance Works by Southern Water. Traffic control (two-way signals). Worthing Road 26 October 10AM - 2PM Works: UK Power Network alteration to supply Traffic control (two-way signals) Cripplegate Lane to Andrews Lane 22 October – 24 October Works: Disconnection or Alteration of Supply by Southern Water. No carriageway incursion expected. Timber Mill No. 17 to 21 22 October 12AM – 24 October, 1AM Works: New Service Connection works by Openreach. No carriageway incursion expected. Woodfield 20 October, 12AM - 22 October, 1AM Utility asset works by Openreach. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Woodlands Way 21 October - 23 October Works: Utility repair and maintenance by Southern Water. Some carriageway incursion is expected.

Let's start with what is Cyber Security? Cyber security refers to the measures taken to protect IT systems, networks, and data from criminal attack, unauthorised access, or accidental loss. What is Cyber Essentials ? Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed certification scheme that helps keep your organisation’s and your customers’ data safe from cyber attacks. Southwater Parish Council is proud to announce that our organisation is now Cyber Essentials Certified, marking a significant step forward in protecting our community, data, and operations. Cyber Essentials sets out a minimum technical standard to defend against the most common cyber-threats. This certification confirms that SPC has implemented essential controls covering areas like firewalls, secure configuration, malware protection, management of user-access, and keeping software up to date. It means we have self-assessed, had our measures independently verified, and committed to maintaining those standards through regular review and renewal. Being Cyber Essentials Certified helps us meet increasing requirements from central government and the AGAR rules coming in 2026, including secure .gov.uk domain names and email addresses, areas which SPC is already compliant with. SPC, as a Gold Award Council under the Local Council Award Scheme , already exceeds statutory requirements in governance, transparency, and community leadership. Our approach to cyber security should follow the same principle: to lead from the front, adopt good practice early, and set a standard for others to follow. We will continue to review and improve our protections, keeping cyber security as a regular part of our risk management and decision-making, so that our community can rely on us to be resilient now and in the future.

Southwater Neighbourhood Wardens have been very busy strengthening connections across the local community, alongside their daily tasks. From informative presentations to educational visits, they continue to play an important role in keeping Southwater a safe and welcoming place for everyone. Last month, the Wardens held an engaging presentation for members of the U3A at The Ghyll. They shared insights about the wide-ranging work they do around Southwater, the challenges they face and resolve, and offered useful advice on personal safety and scam awareness. Attendees also learned where to report various community issues, helping to ensure that Southwater remains a supportive and well-informed community. The team were also invited by Deputy Headteacher Mark Dudeney of Southwater Junior Academy to meet with all Year 6 pupils. One of our wardens, Dominic, during his visit, delivered a lively and informative session about their role in the village and the importance of community values. He explained that, alongside parents, carers, and teachers, their job is to help young people navigate the often confusing transition into the adult world safely and responsibly. The discussion covered rules, a few basic laws, and even touched on some recent local concerns, including incidents where a small number of pupils had been kicking front doors and jumping into hedges, causing damage and distress. This led to an open conversation about personal responsibility, behavioural consequences, and the importance of considering how our actions impact others. Warden Dominic said: “It was wonderful to meet such a polite and clever group of young people. They were engaged and asked some brilliant questions. Let’s hope that they can replicate this excellent behaviour when out in the community and continue to develop skills to lead their generation so that Southwater continues to be a place we can all enjoy.”

The November edition of the monthly Newsletter from Southwater Parish Council is now available to view on the newsletter section of our website. Would you like to be first one to receive our newsletter? Scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe!

To view the Finance & General Purposes meeting agenda, please visit our website Finance & General Purposes | Southwater Parish (southwater-pc.gov.uk)   or view the agenda via the noticeboard outside Beeson House.

Southwater Parish Council invites tenders for the Grass Cutting and Grounds Maintenance Contract for the Downslink Play Area for the period of 2026-2029. Downslink Play Area is the largest and most extensive play area that Southwater Parish Council manages. It varies from the other play areas that we manage due to its size and landscaped design, and large sanded play area. These inherent items require a specific management programme for this site. Interested parties can access the full Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents, including detailed schedules and location maps, via the official Contracts Finder notice here. For further information or assistance, please contact  Southwater Parish Council at: Email:   enquiry@southwater-pc.gov.uk Phone:  01403 733202 Website:   www.southwater-pc.gov.uk

Southwater Parish Council is seeking tenders for its Grass Cutting and Grounds Maintenance Contract covering the period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. This contract encompasses the maintenance of various open spaces, play areas, ponds, and green corridors etc., within the parish. Interested parties can access the full Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents, including detailed schedules and location maps, via the official Contracts Finder notice here. For further information or assistance, please contact Southwater Parish Council at: Email:   enquiry@southwater-pc.gov.uk Phone:  01403 733202 Website:   www.southwater-pc.gov.uk

Southwater Parish Council has now submitted a Traffic Regulation Order request (TRO)  to West Sussex County Council, reference WSCC-747455903 , seeking to reduce the existing 40mph speed limit at both the north and south ends of Worthing Road. A Parish Council survey, conducted over a 21-day period and closing on 26 August 2025 , received over 400 responses . The Worthing Road Speed Limit Survey results show a clear majority of residents support  the proposed reduction. The purpose of the request is to enhance safety for everyone in line with increased housing and traffic volumes along Worthing Road. The proposal is supported by County Councillor Nigel Jupp , Southwater Parish Council , and all three local schools . Please click here to access the summary of the survey results.

Please see the current & upcoming road works for the next couple of weeks: Christ's Hospital 7 October, 8:00 PM – 8 October 6:00 AM Works: Carriageway Retexturing on behalf of West Sussex County Council. Christs Hospital Road Whole Road: Westons Hill to Railway Bridge Two-way signals traffic control will be in place. Eversfield 8 October – 10 October Works: Utility repair and maintenance works by Southern Water. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Fletchers 6 October 9:30AM - 2:30PM Works to install/repair Street Lighting on behalf of West Sussex County Council. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Two Mile Ash Road 6 October 8:30AM - 8 October 12:00PM Works: Utility repair and maintenance by Southern Water. Some carriageway incursion is expected. Horsham Bypass Southbound 22 October for up to 5 days, 8:00PM - 6:30AM daily Temporary closure of Horsham Bypass Southbound. The temporary closure is scheduled to commence on 22nd October 2025 for up to 5 days (it is estimated to be completed on 23rd October 2025) and is required for the safety of the public and workforce while VolkerHighways on behalf of West Sussex County Council undertakes carriageway lining. Road closed Southbound only between Robin Hood Roundabout and Hop Oast Roundabout. Northbound carriageway remains open.

Southwater Parish Council (SPC) submitted a formal complaint to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS)  on 3 rd  October 2025 regarding the Inspector’s decision to uphold the appeal for up to 800 dwellings at Horsham Golf & Fitness. Residents will recall that we published an update on 29 August 2025 setting out our position following the appeal decision, which can be read here: Southwater Parish Council Update – Horsham Golf Club Appeal . Our complaint focuses on the fact that the Inspector re-examined whether the “made” Neighbourhood Plan (approved by referendum in 2021) had allocated enough housing using today’s figures and methodologies (Current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)). This was not within their remit: the Plan had already been properly examined and adopted under the requirements of the time. By taking this approach, the Inspector wrongly concluded that the Plan was “out of date”, something that risks undermining the confidence both the public and Parish/Town Councils placed in the process and setting a damaging precedent for neighbourhood plans everywhere. In the complaint, SPC has asked PINS to: Acknowledge that this treatment of the Neighbourhood Plan went beyond the Inspector’s remit and was not required by national policy or law; Recognise the impact this has had on public confidence and the precedent it creates; and Confirm that Inspectors will not re-assess made neighbourhood plans against later housing figures in future. You can read the full text of SPC’s complaint here: Download Complaint Letter (PDF) . SPC will continue to keep residents updated via its Planning Committee and website as we await a formal response from the Planning Inspectorate and as Horsham District Council’s Judicial Review progresses.

Q1. What is Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation? Devolution is when powers and funding are transferred from central government to local government. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)  means replacing county, district and borough councils with one or more new unitary authorities . For West Sussex, this will mean Horsham District Council ceasing to exist in April 2028, with responsibilities moving to a new county-wide unitary authority . Please read more here.   Q2. What happens to assets (parks, open spaces, facilities) as part of this process? At present, there are community spaces in Southwater which are owned and managed by Horsham District Council (HDC).  Hence, Southwater Parish Council (SPC) is seeking feedback   and views on some of these areas as part of the survey . When HDC is abolished, responsibility will pass to the new Unitary Authority unless assets are transferred to Southwater Parish Council (SPC) under HDC’s Community Asset Transfer Polic y . Q3. How do assets get transferred, and will SPC have to pay HDC? Under HDC’s policy, SPC (or another eligible community body) must submit an application with a business case showing how the asset will be managed for community benefit. Transfers are normally done at nil or nominal value  where there is clear community benefit, but with legal safeguards for HDC such as: Use restrictions  (community purposes only), Clawback clauses  (if sold or misused), Reversion rights  (asset can return to HDC or new Unitary Authority). SPC would therefore not usually pay HDC for the land itself but would eventually take on the full cost of maintenance and management going forward. Initially, as the areas we are seeking feedback for are covered under long term (5-year) grounds maintenance and grass cutting contracts with an undertaking to HDC, ownership can pass to SPC on the basis that maintenance continues to be undertaken as part of that contract where it would be novated from HDC to the Unitary Authority. After which, SPC would be responsible for arranging its own grounds maintenance and grass cutting contract for the area.   Q4. What would happen if SPC didn’t take on these assets? They would remain with the new Unitary Authority. The level of maintenance is uncertain, and experience shows that larger authorities facing budget pressures often reduce local service standards.   Q5. Will these assets be sold off? If SPC owns them : they will not and cannot be sold for private/commercial gain. The legal transfer from HDC will include restrictions, and many of the sites listed in the survey are already protected in the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan (under policies SNP5 and SNP6) which prevent them being developed. If SPC does not own them and they are transferred to the Unitary Authority : decisions will rest with the new Unitary Authority, and SPC cannot give guarantees about future intentions. However, the protections of the Neighbourhood Plan would still apply (if that specific area is designated under Policy SNP5 or SNP6). In addition, it is worth noting: The new Unitary Authority will face major financial pressures during and after reorganisation. Evidence from the Shaping West Sussex Business Case shows that “capital receipts” (selling land or assets) may be used to help fund the transition and future budgets. WSCC has already sold small parcels of land and open spaces in recent years. Therefore, there is a risk that the Unitary Authority could look to sell assets to raise funds. Unlike HDC, the new Unitary Authority will not be bound by HDC’s current Asset Transfer Policy. Its priorities may change, and decisions will be made on a county-wide (or the area it covers) basis, not necessarily with a focus of Southwater’s interests in mind.   Q6. If SPC takes over these assets, what guarantees are there that they will remain accessible to the public? The various sites listed in the survey are safeguarded under the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan . HDC’s transfer terms include covenants and reversion clauses to ensure community benefit. SPC’s own adopted policies would apply once ownership is transferred (see Q10).   Q7. How would taking on new assets affect Council Tax rates? Maintenance costs would be covered by the Parish precept . The exact increase depends on which assets are transferred, and the level of service residents expect. Unlike at county level, all money raised locally by SPC is spent only in Southwater .   Q8. Would these areas be better looked after by SPC or the new Unitary Authority? A larger Unitary Authority/Authorities would be accountable to the whole area of the authority i.e. West Sussex would focus on statutory services and may reduce investment in parishes, smaller towns or villages prioritising focus on key economic centres. SPC is accountable only to Southwater residents and can prioritise higher maintenance standards if that is what the community wants.   Q9. What guarantees do residents have that the new Unitary Authority will maintain the same level maintenance and funding as HDC on these areas? There are no guarantees. Service levels after 2028 will depend on the priorities and budget decisions of the new authority.   Q10. If SPC takes on these areas, would they be included in SPC’s adopted policies on Biodiversity and Climate Action? Yes. Once transferred, all assets would be managed under SPC’s existing commitments to biodiversity, climate action and sustainability.   Q11. Will the decision regarding the transfer of these assets be based on the residents’ responses to the survey? The survey is very important, but it is one part of the decision-making process. 1. How SPC will use your responses Southwater Parish Council (SPC) launched this survey to inform residents about the pending changes and to place residents’ views at the centre of the discussion. Your feedback will be considered when SPC weighs up the benefits and risks of taking on (or not taking on) new assets: Benefits include local control, retained or improved standards of care, and protection of valued spaces. Risks include the long-term financial costs of maintenance, management, and staffing, which would fall on the Parish precept. SPC will take a pragmatic approach: survey results will be considered alongside financial planning, continuity of service provided by HDC, and the long-term importance of each site to the community. 2. The role of Horsham District Council (HDC) Even if SPC and residents are supportive, the final decision lies with HDC . Under HDC’s Community Asset Transfer Policy , the District Council must assess applications against specific criteria, including: The community benefit and sustainability of the proposal, The financial and governance capacity of SPC, Whether the asset is surplus to HDC’s strategic requirements, and The terms of transfer (e.g. use restrictions, covenants, reversion clauses). HDC’s Cabinet or relevant Cabinet Member will then decide whether to approve a transfer. 3. The Outcome Resident responses will shape SPC’s position and whether the Parish Council puts forward applications to HDC. However, a transfer will only happen if HDC approves the application.   Q12. What role does the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan play in protecting these areas? Many of the identified assets are protected under Policy SNP5 (Local Green Space)  and Policy SNP6 (Local Community Space) . This means development is highly restricted regardless of ownership, and the protection remains in force under the planning system.     Disclaimer This FAQ has been prepared with reference to the survey issued by SPC and to help residents understand the current position regarding Devolution, Local Government Reorganisation, and potential Asset Transfers. The situation is evolving, with ongoing discussions between West Sussex County Council, District/Borough Councils, and Central Government. Different councils may hold differing preferences, and final decisions rest with Central Government. The information in this FAQ is accurate to the best of Southwater Parish Council’s understanding and interpretation as at 2nd October 2025  but may be subject to change as the process develops. Please click here for HDC's Policy.

The September Report has been published and is now available to read on our website, please click here: Southwater Neighbourhood Warden's Monthly Reports 2025

Have you got questions about Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation? Would you like to discuss our latest survey? Or there is something else you wish to talk about? Why not come along to our councillor surgery? The next one is taking place face to face on Saturday 4th October 2025 from 10:00AM in the Parish Chamber at Beeson House. This is a great opportunity for you to speak with your Parish, District and County Councillors and raise any queries/concerns and share ideas you may have, or just to have a chat. See you at 10AM on Saturday!

From learner to licensed: a support guide for parents and guardians of new drivers   West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is excited to announce a new , free webinar developed by Warwickshire County Council for the parents and guardians of young drivers who have recently passed their test and who are about to begin driving independently. The fire service’s Head of Prevention, Nathan Cross, said: “Young drivers are at higher risk on the road due to their inexperience. They are less able to spot hazards and more likely to take risks, resulting in one in five crashing within a year of passing their test." “As a parent or guardian, your influence on your young person's ability to become a safe independent driver is more powerful than you might think. This free online event explores how you can play a vital role in shaping the safe driving habits that will continue to be critical to your young person’s road safety long after they pass their test.”   This free 60-minute event takes place on October 1 from 6 pm to 7 pm. Please be advised that spaces are limited. You can find out more and register for the event here .

Here is a summary of the current and upcoming roadworks affecting the local area. Please plan your journeys accordingly and allow extra time where necessary. Charlock Way 23 Sept - 25 Sept Southern Water carrying out utility repair and maintenance works. Camelot Close Side Of 2 24 Sept - 26 Sept Openreach is carrying out works for new service connection. The Copse 26 Sept 12AM - 1AM Openreach is carrying out works for new service connection. Bluecoat Pond, Christ's Hospital 30 Sept - 2nd Oct Southern Water carrying out utility repair and maintenance works. Timber Mill 30 Sept 8AM - 2nd Oct 6PM Openreach is carrying out utility repair and maintenance works.

Southwater Parish Council held its latest Full Council Meeting on Wednesday, 17th September 2025. This meeting marked an important moment for the parish as we welcomed new councillors to fill three vacancies. Seven candidates put themselves forward to fill the three vacancies, each presenting their ideas, experiences, and vision for Southwater. Following their presentations, an open ballot was held, and three successful candidates were co-opted onto the council. Cllr John Potts Cllr Malcolm Brierley Cllr Philippa French With a full team of councillors now in place again , the council is looking forward to working closely with the new members to support local initiatives, improve parish services, and strengthen community engagement. Another highlight of the meeting came when Trevor Leggo, CEO of West Sussex Association of Local Councils , presented Southwater Parish Council with the prestigious Gold Award . Trevor Leggo (left) presenting the Gold Award and handing it over to Cllr Derek Moore (right), Chairman of SPC The Gold Award is not only recognition of high standards in governance and transparency but also of Southwater Parish Council’s leadership role in the community. It reflects years of hard work, dedication, and commitment. Receiving the Gold Award is a significant achievement, reflecting the hard work of councillors and staff in delivering high-quality services and initiatives for the Southwater community. Please click here for more information about this award. The Full Council Meeting agenda and further details are available on our website here.

We recently asked for your feedback on grass cutting and grounds maintenance in our community, and you responded! Thank you to everyone who took part and shared your views. The survey results are now available, giving a helpful picture of what matters most to our residents. From the frequency of cuts to protecting wildlife and keeping our green spaces welcoming, your valuable input will help shape how we care for our shared spaces moving forward. Take a look at the full results and see how your voice is helping to guide future improvements. Click here to access the results.

Are You Missing Out on Everyday Recycling? Recycle Week takes place from 22 to 28 September, and this year West Sussex is highlighting the importance of keeping recyclable materials out of the general waste bin. Many residents are already recycling the basics, but WSCC survey results show that everyday items are still being missed. Trigger sprays, flexible toothpaste tubes, empty aerosol cans, aluminium foil, and even coloured plastics (including black microwave meal trays) can all go in your recycling bin at home. In fact, 44% of West Sussex residents admitted they sometimes put recyclable items into general waste simply because they weren’t sure what could be recycled. Remember: items should always be clean, dry and loose  before being placed in your recycling bin. If you’re ever in doubt, the West Sussex Recycles A–Z guide  is a quick way to check what goes where. By making small changes, we can ensure valuable materials are kept in use and out of landfill. Recycling Education available here. Together, let’s make every item count this Recycle Week.

Major changes are planned to councils across West Sussex. The Government has asked councils to explore how devolution and local government reorganisation could work in the area, with the aim of replacing the current county, district and borough councils with a new unitary council (or councils), responsible for local services. A community consultation had been run by the County, Borough and District Councils to ask residents of West Sussex for their views. For more information on local government reorganisation and this consultation, visit www.shapingwestsussex.org . What is the difference between Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation? Devolution  is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. Local Government Reorganisation  is the creation of unitary authorities in place of district, borough and county councils. It involves changing how local councils are structured and what they do. Under the English Devolution White Paper, the Government plans to replace the two-tier system with larger councils, typically serving 500,000+ people, though exceptions may be made, based on local needs and devolution goals. Expected timeline of events What could it mean for Southwater Parish? There will be limited changes to the legal role of Town and Parish councils as part of local government reorganisation. However, with Horsham District Council ceasing to exist in April 2028, the ownership, management and care for many local assets in our Parish will inevitably change. At this stage it is uncertain who will be responsible for these assets or what level of service they will receive under the new unitary authority. Experience shows that when larger authorities face budget pressures, they often reduce service levels to achieve savings. Southwater Parish Council could step in to maintain a higher standard of service and ensure local spaces continue to be cared for at this level. Doing so could mean an increase in the Parish precept, but importantly this would ensure that money raised from Southwater residents is spent directly in Southwater, rather than being absorbed across the wider unitary area. We are seeking residents’ views on the assets listed below and whether SPC should pursue their transfer from HDC so that decisions on their care and investment are made locally.  Every household receives the information flyer/survey below, and once filled out, can return it to our office, or fill out the online version of the survey, which can be accessed via clicking here . To help with the survey, we have marked the mentioned assets on a map, with orange colour. Please click here to access this map. Please fill out the back page on the flyer or the online version and return your response to us by 31st October 2025. The flyer that was delivered to each household in the Parish Front and back page of flyer Inner pages left and right

The next couple of weeks are going to be very busy on the roads of Southwater. Please see the current & upcoming road works for the next couple of weeks: Coltstaple Lane 12 September, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM Works: Drainage works by FM Conway on behalf of West Sussex County Council. Coltstaple Lane, Horsham Outside Copstaple Farm Up to junction by property Swift's Nest Traffic Management: Full daytime road closure. Emergency access maintained. Cripplegate Lane 12 September – 9 October, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily Works: Footway reconstruction (removal of old surface and laying new material). From junction of Mill Straight to junction of Cedar Drive. Traffic Management: Alternate one-way traffic control in place. Easteds Lane 11 – 15 September (overnight, 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM) Works: Utility repair and maintenance by Openreach. Traffic Management: Some carriageway incursion. Charlock Way 16 – 18 September Works: Utility repair and maintenance by Southern Water. Traffic Management: Some carriageway incursion. Millfield 16 – 17 September (overnight, 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM) Works: Remedial works by Openreach. Traffic Management: Some carriageway incursion. Bamborough Close 16 – 18 September Works: Utility repair and Maintenance work by Southern Water. Traffic Management: Some carriageway incursion.

The October edition of the monthly Newsletter from Southwater Parish Council is now available to view on the newsletter section of our website. Would you like to be first one to receive our newsletter? Scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe!

Our Neighbourhood wardens, Bettina and Dom are holding a drop-in session at Southwater Library, with Age UK. Come and say hello, ask any questions you may have, raise any of your concerns, or just get to know the friendly team who help so many people around the village. When? 16th September 2025 10AM - 12PM Where? Southwater Library, at Beeson House See you there!

The Full Council Meeting Agenda for 17th September 2025 is available to view on our website and on the noticeboard outside Beeson House.

Southwater Parish Council is delighted to announce that it has been awarded the Gold Award under the   Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS)  - the highest level of accreditation a council can achieve from the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) . This makes Southwater the first Town or Parish Council in both East and West Sussex to achieve Gold status . The Gold Award demonstrates that a council is “at the forefront of best practice and achieves excellence in governance, community leadership and council development” . In a letter confirming the award ( which can be viewed here ), Keith Stevens, the Chair of the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) praised Southwater Parish Council, stating: “Receiving the Gold Award is an excellent achievement showing that your council achieves good practices in governance, community engagement and council improvement. Furthermore, this award shows that your council has gone above and beyond the legal obligations; you lead your community and continuously seek opportunities to improve and develop even further.” The Gold Award is not only recognition of high standards in governance and transparency but also of Southwater Parish Council’s leadership role in the community. It reflects years of hard work, dedication, and commitment. Executive Officer & Responsible Financial Officer, Justin Tyler, who led the application process, said: “This achievement has been a couple years in the making. Southwater Parish Council is incredibly fortunate to have such committed, skilled and capable officers who consistently go above and beyond. Their hard work often takes place behind the scenes, but it is their determination, and commitment to serving Southwater that has made this recognition possible. We are blessed to have such a strong and capable team, and I want to publicly thank them for everything they do. I also extend thanks to our Chairman and the Councillors for their support throughout the journey and West Sussex Association of Local Councils (WSALC) for their continued guidance” The Council acknowledges that while reaching Gold is a significant milestone, the work does not stop here. As NALC noted, the award recognises councils that “continuously seek opportunities to improve and develop even further”. Local Council Award Scheme - Gold Certificate Accreditation Derek Moore, Chairman of Southwater Parish Council has also said: “For Southwater to be the first Town or Parish Council in Sussex to achieve the Gold Award is a tremendous achievement. This recognition reflects the exceptional standards Southwater Parish Council upholds and the professionalism, skill, and dedication of our staff, supported by our councillors. It is a true team effort, and we are proud to serve a community that not only inspires us to keep raising the bar, but is involved in how we keep Southwater as a great place to live.” Southwater Parish Council remains committed to learning, growing, and raising standards to ensure the best outcomes for the community, which is ever more important with the pending changes of Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution.