It has now been two years since you elected me as your Councillor, and I thought this would be a good moment to reflect on the things that the Lib Dem/Green Alliance has achieved so far. I am incredibly grateful for the support and care that so many of you put into making Fletching such a wonderful place to live. Here are just some of the ways that we have been working to make Wealden a place where People and Nature can thrive together:

• Wealden has reduced carbon emissions by 20% in facilities directly controlled by the Council.
• Wealden has improved the energy efficiency of over 1,000 Council-owned homes.
• Completed 20 new energy efficient Council homes (EPC A-rated) and delivered 777 new affordable homes.
• We have adopted a revised Council tax reduction scheme which offers 100% council tax reduction for 4,000 eligible working age residents in Wealden.
• Established 12 Community Orchards (securing £128,000 from the Coronation Heritage Fund).
• Along with the Sussex Wildlife Trust, Lewes District Council and other partners, Wealden continues to support the Wilder Ouse Project - to create a nature recovery network and restore natural flow processes within the Ouse Catchment. So far: 4,512 trees have been planted; hedging laid; leaky dams established; and ponds and scrapes created and restored.
• We refurbished both Hailsham and Uckfield Leisure Centres - Uckfield was facing closure under the previous administration.
• We have invested £16 million in the Wealden Sports Hub - a not for profit, community benefit facility in Hailsham, which is one of Wealden’s most underserved communities. The Hub provides improved playing pitches and state-of-the-art sports facilities and a play park designed to serve people with disabilities.

• Wealden acquired land as the first stage in building a brand new £12 million Medical facility in Polegate.
• Obtained planning permission for a new Medical Centre and Community Facility in Mayfield.
• The economic development team has attracted and supported new businesses in Wealden; seeing a 15% increase in local employment
• Making sure that Wealden DC buys local where it can - £39million or 40% of Council procurement has gone to local companies over the last two years.
• Ran an award-winning “Have you been dumped?” campaign which reduced the amount of fly tipping. 96% of respondents now check for a waste carrier license when using a third party to remove rubbish. Neighbouring authorities are now adopting our campaign because of its effectiveness.
• Increased recycling participation.
• Extended the use of Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in the fleet of waste vehicles, which reduces emissions by 90% and improves air quality.
• Increased electric charging provision.
• Agreed allocations of over £1 million for Community Grant Funding, which will support partners to deliver projects for Wealden residents such as: Citizen’s Advice, Community Services, Youth Support, Environmental Projects, Health and Wellbeing, Employment, Training, Arts and Culture. Further increased funding has now been released.
• Wealden Community Lottery raised over £100,000 and supported over 100 good causes in the District.
• Better engagement - we have run numerous consultations and implemented the “Let’s Talk Wealden” online hub.

We continue to work hard to make Wealden a Greener, Fairer, Kinder District, but we are facing increasingly challenging headwinds. Not least changes in planning legislation and Local Government reorganisation, meaning that sadly Wealden will likely be extinct by 2028. We will have to pull together as a community to meet these challenges together.

As ever, if you have any questions, problems or concerns, please do reach out to me and I will do my best to help.

Cllr. Christina Coleman
cllr.christina.coleman@wealden.gov.uk
07718 208340