Latest
Village Survey 2025 – Have Your Say! The Parish Council is today launching a survey of residents to get feedback back on the work of the Parish Council, what we should be prioritising and what issues are important for residents. This is the first survey since 2020 so we need your views. Complete the survey here or email parish.clerk@rottingdean-pc.gov.uk
for more information.
Brighton and Hove City Council Review of Community Libraries. The Parish Council is aware of speculation in local media about the closure of Rottingdean Library. Brighton and Hove City Council are to conduct a review of community libraries with the potential closure of up three libraries depending on the outcome of a consultation. The review has begun with an analysis of the use of each library and the needs of the local residents to identify those libraries whose closure would have least impact on customers. This will be followed by 6-week consultation period, expected over the summer, before any decisions are made. The Parish Council consider Rottingdean Library a key community facility at the heart of the village, it is in close proximity to the two primary schools and an integral part of the historical Grange art gallery building. We will be closely monitoring the situation and in particular the views of residents and community groups during the consultation phase and depending on residents’ views, will make representations to BHCC before decisions are made.
New Councillor. At the March meeting, Sandra Hickin was co-opted to the Parish Council. Sandra brings experience in sales, customer services, HR, project management, business processes, performance management, and Health and Safety.
PARISH COUNCIL BUDGET AND PRECEPT FOR 2025/26 AGREED. At the Council meeting on the 3rd of February Councillors agreed a budget of £172,400 for 2025/26 and to increase the amount of the precept for average (Band D) households by 98 pence per year bringing the total annual amount payable to £33.79. This small increase will mitigate inflationary pressures on our operational costs and will allow the Parish Council to deliver key improvements to local amenities and services. The Parish Council plans include repair of the pond barrier, making the undercliff safer for both pedestrians and cyclists and improving signage on Beacon Hill. We also want to invest in the St Aubyns Field, Chapel and Pavilion assets for the whole community to enjoy, develop a masterplan for the improvement of the High Street with the City Council and continue to support the excellent work of the many volunteer groups that make the village a special place to live and work. See here for full details
Rottingdean High Street. Both Rottingdean Parish Council and Ward Councillors have been asking Brighton and Hove City Council to resurface Rottingdean High Street for some time, but we have been advised that it is low on their priority list and so will not be happening in the near future. It is also likely to be a complex and expensive job, the tarmac is almost level with the pavement where large lorries and buses have mounted the pavement. Repair of the High Street road and pavements has now become our top priority, and to this end the Parish Council has set up a working group with the local Ward Councillors and requested a detailed step by step costed plan from the City Council to address both resurfacing and pedestrian safety. Funding will have to be found, but the first step is to have an integrated plan that will improve the driver, pedestrian and shopper experience. Because the road is unlikely be resurfaced in the near future the Parish Council asked Brighton and Hove City Council to refresh the street markings to improve pedestrian safety at crossings and increase awareness of speed and parking restrictions.
Damage to the Kipling Garden’s rear wall. In late December 2023 a car smashed into the rear wall of Kipling Gardens causing extensive damage. Immediately after the crash Brighton and Hove City Council were advised and sent someone to inspect the damage. Over the course of 2024 updates were requested and the Parish Council were told that estimates were being sought for repairs. Towards the end of last year we again were advised that the council had no available funding to repair the wall. Given that the damage was caused by a vehicle, Ward Councillors have urged the City Council to claim costs from the driver via Sussex Police who attended the accident. The matter was also raised at the when Cllr Mike Nixon met the BHCC CEO, Jess Gibbons on the 4 of March. Urgent advice is now being sought from Sussex Police about whether or not a claim against insurance is a possibility. The Parish Council and BHCC can then decide how the repair will be funded.
Beacon Hill Nature Report for 2024 published.
The Beacon Hill Nature Reserve annual report is now online and can be found here. The report includes information about the work of the Friends of Beacon Hill, the City Park Ranger and about the plants and wildlife on the Nature Reserve.
St Aubyn’s Community Field Update December 2024
A recent site inspection showed good progress in all areas with some minor remedial work needed on the bund at the south of the field, to the recently installed artistic component and to the pavilion. The grass is bedding in nicely, and the newly planted trees along the southern edge of the field are settling in well. The grant application to the Forestry Commission's Urban Tree Challenge Fund for 36 trees has been successful and we are working with City Parks and Brighton Permaculture Trust (BPT) to identify the best possible mix of species. Bird and bat boxes have already been installed in a number of trees on the north side of the Field by Steyning Road. In addition, the Rottingdean in Bloom team, led by Helen Clark, have generously donated and planted 250 daffodil bulbs around the northwest entrance to the park and around the war memorial by the pavilion. These will provide a cheering splash of colour when they come into bloom next year. More details can be found here
See
News for more
Rottingdean Parish Council
Rottingdean is the only Parish Council in the Brighton and Hove area funded by a small addition to the Council Tax (the precept). There are 9 Councillors elected every four years. Rottingdean Council’s aim is to:
- To preserve and protect the natural environment, seafront, green spaces and character of our village
- To promote and enhance the quality of village community life, services and amenities
- To monitor and influence priorities for the development of the built environment, highways, traffic, and pathways by working closely with relevant BHCC departments
In all our work and indeed in deciding how best to use our delegated powers the Parish Councillors, who remain unremunerated, always have the best interests of residents in mind. Having a Parish Council is a vital part of local democracy ensuring the Rottingdean residents have much more say in the future of the village and that the interests of residents are directly represented in wider decisions on infrastructure and planning. The Parish Council’s delegated powers mean we can contribute to a range of local services and amenities which may otherwise be given a much lower priority given the pressures on Brighton and Hove City Council.
Supporting Activity
To preserve and protect the natural environment, seafront, green spaces and character of our village
- By maintaining the Village Pond
- Through the Beacon Hill Nature Reserve Stewardship Group
- The installation of a new Pond Path
To promote and enhance the quality of village community life, services and amenities
- Making the Lower High Street a pedestrian priority area
- Refurbishing Park Road Toilets
- Providing Grant funding to local community groups and charities
- Providing a new green space at the centre of the Village – St Aubyns Field
- Supporting artistic and cultural events
- Promoting tourism and economic activity
- Working with BHCC to improve the Air Quality in the High Street
To monitor and influence priorities for the development of the built environment, highways, traffic, and pathways by working closely with relevant BHCC departments
- Scrutinising all planning applications
- Working with BHCC to manage Air Quality
- Co-funding pavement repair on the High Street
- Working with BHCC on a solution for lighting of the Twitten
Rottingdean Council is funded by a small amount added to the Council tax (the Council tax precept) that is agreed in April each year. Funds are used to improve to the Village environment and make grants and donations to initiatives and activities which benefit the Community. Our grant application form and guidance can be found here
The Parish Council has a number of Advisory Groups that consider the detail of proposals and make recommendations to the full Parish Council to consider. See more here
First created in November 2010, this website is regularly updated and new ideas for content are often added. As well as providing public information, the Parish Council wishes to hear your feedback, ideas and comments, so please e-mail your views direct to us at parish.clerk@rottingdean-pc.gov.uk
The current Rottingdean Parish Councillors are:
Clerk to the Parish Council: Chris Hayes
