On Thursday, 5th May there will be elections to Crawley Borough Council in each ward with the exception of Furnace Green and Northgate, as well as an election for the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner.
Sadly, as we all know, there is a local litter problem – I believe Crawley deserves better. It is necessary for a strong message against littering to go out from the Town Hall, including a tough approach to challenging behaviour and issuing fines.
National policies from central Government, such as the Help to Buy scheme, have benefited families in Crawley. Whoever wins on Thursday will have a responsibility to use their position to work in a productive, constructive manner with the Government to secure the best deal for our town.
Such an approach is the only way to ensure our council is putting Crawley first.
Powers continue to be devolved from Westminster, and in the years ahead, local government will keep all £26 billion of business rates, rather than sending them to Whitehall. Local areas will also be able to cut business rates, as much as they like, to secure new jobs.
Whoever wins the election to become the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner will also face challenges.
One of the key reasons that Police & Crime Commissioners were introduced was to improve accountability of the people chosen to set objectives for policing in the area.
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary recently judged Sussex as one of just five forces nationally to be rated ‘good’ in all areas.
Community projects can also be set up by the PCC – in recent years £550,000 has gone towards 115 projects supporting a reduction in crime, and promoting help for victims.
Such initiatives go towards making us all safer in Sussex.