District Dispatch - 18 January 2023

The council's bid includes a particular focus on supporting projects that have been identified through the district's vision groups. Council officers have also worked closely with communities across the district to consider the types of issues which could be addressed using the fund.

In addition to this, we have also applied for funding through the Rural England Prosperity Fund which will be used for capital projects aimed at supporting new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. It will also support new and improved community infrastructure, providing essential community services and assets for local people and businesses. We are expecting to hear if we have been successful with this application around the end of January and so we'll keep you posted on this.

For the first time ever, voters will need to show photo ID at the local elections on 4 May, and so we are urging people to check if they have an accepted form of ID and to apply for free ID if they don't. Accepted forms of ID include a driving licence and a passport, as well as some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person's bus pass. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Anyone without an accepted form of ID will be able to apply to the council for a free form of ID, called a Voter Authority Certificate. Voters can apply online by visiting the Voter Authority Certificate service webpage (opens new window) or by completing a paper form and sending this to our electoral services team. To be able to vote on 4 May, those who need free ID must apply by 5pm on 25 April.

You can find the full list of accepted ID on the Electoral Commission website (opens new window) along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for free voter ID.

The district and parish elections will take place on Thursday 4 May. So, if you need to apply for a postal vote, please make sure you do so by eleven working days before the election date. You can access the application form by visiting the electoral commission apply for postal vote webpage (opens new window).

I'm pleased to tell you that our new Chichester District Council app continues to be well received. One of the biggest benefits of the app, is that it enables residents to sign up to receive weekly reminders on recycling or waste collections. If residents subscribe to the notifications, we can also let residents know if our crews are running late, or other planned changes to collections - and so please remember to switch these on. Customers can also report issues on the app directly to us, including fly tipping, and they can even request a new bin. This makes this process much simpler and convenient, whether you are at home or about. The app also provides other useful council information, from council news, through to the food hygiene ratings of local restaurants and cafes. It also provides recycling advice and help people to identify which items should go in which bins. The free mobile app is available to download on the Apple app store or the Google Play store. Personally, I have found it incredibly useful. To find out more you can visit our District Council App webpage.

If you haven't already, it's also worth signing up to our monthly email newsletter, which provides you with the latest news and updates. If you would like to subscribe, please sign up through our news alert webpage.

Best Wishes

Cllr Eileen Lintill

Leader of Chichester District Council