A huge thank you to local election candidates, volunteers and everyone who turned out to vote! Congratulations to everyone who has been elected and commiserations to those not retuning. I must add I was delighted to see the brilliant Katy Bourne OBE has been re-elected our Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex for the third time!
Local residents have been particularly worried about recent Pet Theft increases and I’ve been regularly speaking with PCC Bourne about this worrying issue. Pleasingly, Sussex police have recently arrested several people and increased surveillance. Importantly, the Government have now launched a national Pet Theft taskforce, between the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and DEFRA, to gather evidence to understand the factors contributing to any rise in thefts and to recommend necessary measures to tackle the problem. To read more about the Taskforce, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-theft-taskforce-terms-of-reference
This week, we unveiled new laws in the Queen’s Speech to ensure the UK builds back better and stronger from the pandemic. The NHS remains a top priority, and we will deliver on our promises to support jobs and business, make our neighbourhoods safer, and continue on our path to net zero by 2050. We are committed to uniting and levelling up every corner of the UK. It was a huge honour and special moment to hear Her Majesty deliver the speech from the Peers lobby on the new, government agenda.
I know everyone will have been relieved to see the PM’s press conference on Monday, which confirmed we will be taking the biggest step yet back towards normality next week, on May 17th, with lockdown measures being significantly relaxed. This includes meeting friends and loved ones indoors, travelling around the UK, socialising in groups of 30 outside and the reopening of theatres, hotels, business centres – and much more. I’m also pleased all University students can return to in-person teaching, while face coverings will no longer be required in classrooms! Further details are here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItMLskLHB8AIVCuztCh2FkANGEAAYASAAEgKUAfD_BwE
Last Friday, the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps MP, announced the first steps towards unlocking international travel and a summer in which we can reunite family and friends, explore new places and start looking outwards. I hope this comes as really positive news as we look forward to the important return of overseas travel and getting our domestic and overseas tourism back up to pre-Covid levels. For more info, please visit: https://www.mimsdavies.org.uk/news/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-international-travel
Finally, huge congratulations to the fantastic Haywards Heath Trio - the most recent Mayor, Alastair McPherson, Deputy Mayor Matt Jeffers and HHTC Town Clerk, Steve Trice, for completing the Mayor’s Marathon last week, raising an incredible £2,600 so far for the fabulous local charity, Time 4 Children. You can still donate at https://localgiving.org/fundraising/Mayor-runs-for-time4children/