Over the coming months, this is going to be a document that Chi Soc will get behind, with our focus on planning – https://www.chichester.gov.uk/regeneration-strategy
Chichester City Council: Past, Present, and Future – A Glimpse into 800 Years of Civic Life
In a recent talk hosted by the Chichester Society at the 20 November coffee morning , Sam Tate, Town Clerk of Chichester City Council, delved into the council’s remarkable history and its evolving role in the city.
Historic Foundations
Chichester City Council stands among the oldest civic institutions in England, with roots reaching back at least 800 years. The earliest recorded mayor dates to 1239, and the city’s rich traditions—including mayor-making ceremonies and the annual mace procession to the cathedral—are still alive today. After centuries as a “closed corporation” dominated by a select few, the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act ushered in democratic elections, transforming the council into a more accountable body.
Changing Powers
The 1972 Local Government Act drastically reshaped local administration. Many powers—like housing, parks, and street lighting—shifted to the newly formed Chichester District Council, relegating the City Council to mainly ceremonial duties and small asset management. However, local advocacy ensured that Chichester retained its parish council and mayoralty, bucking the trend that saw similar councils abolished.
Present-Day Initiatives
Today, Chichester City Council manages valued community assets, such as the Council House, Market Cross, Litten Gardens, and select parks and burial grounds. The council plays a critical role in:
Supporting community projects: Grants have risen from £30,000 to £110,000 annually to boost voluntary groups and deliver initiatives like community forums, arts support, and the shop mobility scheme.
Promoting civic life: Organizing ceremonial events, civic awards, and fostering international twinning.
Enhancing public safety and amenities: Investing in street and park lighting, contributing £400,000 toward pavement and tree planting projects, and supporting upgrades to recreation areas.
Environmental stewardship: Improving council facilities for energy efficiency (solar panels, battery storage), and developing wildflower meadows and pollinator-friendly plantings.
Planning for new assets: Working to secure land for a much-needed community center in the city’s south.
Looking Ahead: Devolution and Reorganization
Significant change looms on the horizon with the anticipated English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. This legislation aims to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) covering Sussex, placing powers such as strategic housing, transportation, public health, and emergency services under a directly elected regional mayor.
Moreover, the Bill is expected to abolish the current two-tier county/district system by 2028, replacing it with unitary authorities. There is ongoing consultation over whether West Sussex will be administered as a single Unitary Authority (with about 1 million residents) or split into two smaller unitaries. The City Council has expressed preference for the two-unitary model, citing better local representation, albeit with recognition that financial pressures may drive central government to opt for a single unitary—following the example set in Surrey.
What Does This Mean for Chichester?
The future will likely see parish and town councils take on greater responsibility for parks, public spaces, and community facilities as higher-tier authorities shed discretionary functions to deal with constrained budgets. Chichester City Council is already preparing—registering expressions of interest in taking over key parks and monitoring the government’s consultation process.
Financially, the City Council is flexible: its portion of council tax for a typical Band D property is £77.85 per year, raising about £970,000 annually, with the ability to adjust this precept if required to fund additional services.
Community Engagement
Finally, transparency and communication are firmly on the agenda, with the council looking to increase its outreach through e-newsletters (and considering print editions) to better keep residents informed and involved.
Final Thoughts
Through centuries of tradition, punctuated by waves of reform, Chichester City Council has adapted to the city’s changing needs. As it faces another era of transformation, its focus remains on supporting community life, preserving heritage, and serving the people of Chichester.
Interested in learning more or having your say on local government reorganization? Visit the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s website for the latest consultation details, or sign up for the City Council newsletter via their official website.
Anti-Social Behaviour in Chichester
On the 2nd of December 2025, The Chichester Society organised a panel meeting to discuss the increase in anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Chichester with Key Partners including Sussex Police, Chichester District Council, Chichester BID and key stakeholders. All parties have committed to quarterly review meetings.
The outcome was very positive and we now wish to share important information with all Resident’s Associations, to in turn, pass on to their membership. It is particularly important to get the message out during the Christmas period and New Year when there is an increased influx of people drinking and gathering in groups on the streets and perhaps more younger people around who are on holiday from school and perhaps bored or badly influenced by older age groups.
ASB is on the increase for residents and businesses alike and has a cumulative effect on our area, and whilst it appears an arduous task to report incidences and fill in the on-line form on the Sussex Police website, it is critical to do so.
Specific details like time of day, address, description (for example school uniform) and photos add weight to the reporting and help the authorities target areas in an efficient and speedier manner.
The authorities need to see actual real time increase and data of reporting and we all have a responsibility to help with this, which in turn helps us all. Every report counts, it is not a pointless exercise.
Without the reporting, decisions cannot be made for instance, to increase Officer quotas or keep an eye on a specific area.
If your membership find filling in the form too overwhelming, suggest family, friends and neighbours assist.
Obviously if anyone is in immediate danger always ring 999.
The link to the Sussex Police is https://www.sussex.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb-v3/report-antisocial-behaviour/
Weald and Downland Living Museum – “55 for the 55th” Project
The Weald and Downland Living Museum is launching an anniversary campaign to raise £55,000 to make the Museum more ‘Accessible to Everyone’ for the next 55 years and beyond.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Weald & Downland Living Museum. To celebrate, we are launching our “55 for 55” campaign – aiming to raise £55,000 to make the Museum more ‘Accessible to Everyone’.
History and heritage should be open to all. Yet today some visitors face challenges accessing our beautiful site and historic buildings. With your support, we can preserve the past and open the future to all. Your donation will help us to:
- Create new accessible paths so wheelchair users, those with mobility needs, and families with pushchairs can move freely around the Museum.
- Deliver new, inclusive play areas designed for children of all ages and abilities, giving families welcoming spaces to rest, play, and connect.
- Install updated signage and interpretation boards designed with inclusive, easy-to-read formats, supporting visitors with reading accessibility needs.
- Deliver site-wide accessibility improvements that enhance navigation, inclusivity, and the visitor experience – opening the Museum to new communities.
Together, we can make sure the Weald and Downland remains a place for everyone, for the next 55 years and beyond.
The link to the Crowdfund is here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/qr/qle5gzXl?utm_campaign=sharemodal&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=shortlink
Local Government Reorganisation in Sussex
Our current Mayor, Sean McHale, is calling two meetings in the Assembly Room on Monday 3rd November at 1800 and 1930 to discuss the potential impact of local government reorganisation (LGR) on Chichester city’s green spaces. He will talk as will a colleague about this topic. They’ll be time for a Q&A as well.
As background this presentation Local Government Changes with branding provides an overview. And you can find CDC’s view here.
As Sean says: ‘As a council we need a plan and the aim of the evening is to sense the appetite among residents for various options’.
Chichester: City, Devolution & Transport – Information Sharing Event
An important opportunity to learn about plans for public transport in Chichester.
This is the Society’s annual public meeting, Tuesday 1st July at 1800 in the Assembly Room, as part of the Festival of Chichester.
The speakers are now confirmed:
– Matt Davey (Assistant Director of Highways, Transport & Planning for WSCC)
– William Knighton & Laura Rondon (Senior Public Affairs Managers for Network Rail)
– Paul Codd (Senior Stakeholder Manager for Govia (Southern Rail))
– James O’Neill (Commercial Director for Stagecoach South)
There will be opportunity for questions.
£5 tickets are available from the Novium Museum to cover the cost of the event and refreshments.
You can book online at festivalofchichester.co.uk/events, selecting Event CO8.
This will ensure you can be seated and receive refreshments.
DON’T LEAVE IT TOO LATE TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!
And tell your friends and neighbours!
Do also visit our stand at the Chichester Gala in Priory Park on Saturday 29 June, pitch no 26, near the West Main Gate / NW of the Guildhall, from 11am to 4:30pm
(beyond the Friends of Chartres, Ravenna, Valetta & Speyer and the Priory Park Society.)
A chance to meet your committee and other members, and there will also be activities for children.
Sir Mark Featherstone-Witty OBE,
Chair of the Chichester Society Executive Committee
Chichester Action Group – Green Space Tidying
The Chichester Action Group (CAG) kicked off earlier this year, hoping to make modest but useful differences to the city we all love. One of our ‘quick win’ ideas was tidying up unsightly areas where overgrown foliage goes well beyond ‘wilding’ to the point of visually marring parts of the urban landscape.
Our first blitz was in the strip of stone paving between the Oxmarket Gallery and the backs of the shops on East Street. The area had become so wild that it was an off-putting sight for those using the twitten beside M&S to access the Oxmarket and nearby car park. The condition of the space was also starting to attract litter and had the potential to become a magnet for miscreants.
So on a grey Saturday afternoon (November 14th), a group of 11 volunteers – from both CAG and the Oxmarket – joined forces to return the area to a far more presentable state.
The job took barely 90 minutes but the results are striking:
The lane behind the Oxmarket gallery before November 14th
After
A week later we scored a second success, this time along the embankments of the Roman Walls in the city’s northwest quadrant. This summer we had noticed walking-tour guides telling visitors that this area “used to be beautiful” and we were keen to make sure that we could remove such comments from the script!
However, as the maintenance of this land is officially a council duty, the DIY approach used in cooperation with and eager support of our friends at the Oxmarket, wouldn’t work on these areas. Instead, Jane Langford on behalf of CAG, launched a concerted campaign to nag the district council [CDC] into action.
Despite an initial rebuff, Jane’s mixture of diplomacy and persistence eventually had the desired effect, aided by the intercession of certain local councillors to push CDC to act.
In the end, the CDC’s Parks and Gardens did a sterling job and the results are truly remarkable:
Northwest Walls access point before November 20th.
After
More work remains to be completed on other sections of the walls but Jane’s groundwork of involving and cooperating with councillors and residents’ groups means that this should prove a springboard to encourage the CDC to continue with refreshing other ‘Green Spaces’ along the City Walls Walk and beyond.
So congratulations to all involved. Two different approaches both proved successful. And to the many passers-by who expressed their support when seeing the clearance in action, please do join us at the Chichester Action Group for more small but important ‘quick win’ efforts to get our beautiful city back to looking beautiful.
See more ideas for CAG to work on here, and to volunteer help please email cag@chichestersociety.org.uk
Chi Soc visit to Tangmere Museum
On 14 November a group of some thirty members paid a visit to Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.
Our host was David Coxon, former curator and now an Honorary Life Vice President of the Museum. Chi Soc members will have seen some of David’s articles about Tangmere in recent editions of our newsletter.
David started by giving us a talk about the Tangmere airbase and the origins of the museum, which opened to the public in 1982.
David did stress that despite all the aircraft and machinery in the museum, it is really about the personal histories of the airmen, many of whom gave their lives for the country.
After David’s introductory talk, we split into three groups to tour the museum.
I was in the group that was led by David.
We started by looking at the aircraft outside the museum, which included a Sea Harrier, a Phantom, and a Wessex helicopter.
We then went indoors and started in the Battle of Britain Hall, which included a display relating to Flt Lt James Nicholson, Fighter Command’s only Victoria Cross holder of the war. Other displays related to air aces such as Douglas Bader and Johnnie Johnson.
In the Tangmere Hall we saw displays relating to the Special Operations Executive and how Tangmere played a crucial role flying Lysanders to get agents secretly in and out of France.
The Merston Hall has a full-scale replica of a Lysander. In the Middle Hall is and exhibition celebrating the role of the many Czech and Polish pilots who supported the RAF during the war.
We then moved to the Merston and Meryl
Hansed Memorial Halls which house most of the actual aircraft in the collection, including the Hawker Hunter in which Neville Duke broke the world airspeed record in 1953.
However, what really stunned me was the enormous size of the Lightning, the museum’s largest aircraft, which seemed to be the size of a railway carriage, but with wings attached!
If you haven’t been, I can strongly recommend a visit to the museum.
Richard Childs
YOUR IDEAS FOR OUR CITY – follow up
Our public meeting on 17 June on the theme “Your Ideas for Our City” as part of the Festival of Chichester attracted over 150 participants.
We followed up with a questionnaire and then, on 8 August, sixteen of us met to discuss how to translate some of the ideas into action.
We decided to focus initially on small-scale achievable objectives such as litter, weeding and signage by forming one or more project groups to address specific issues, overseen by a Campaign Manager / Coordinator on the Society’s Executive Committee.
Team members would hope to recruit community volunteers to carry out the work by emailing Society members and local Residents Associations, as well as University and College student groups.
Direct community action might shame the local authorities into taking action themselves!
Your Ideas for our City – Public Meeting June 17
We were delighted to welcome over 130 attendees at our panel discussion in the Assembly Room as part of the ongoing Festival of Chichester.
It was on the exact 50th anniversary of the Town Meeting in Chichester Cathedral on Monday 17 June 1974 which was attended by some 1500 citizens outraged at the ongoing demolition of housing to create a dual carriageway ring road and commercial development within the city centre.
This prompted us to organise a similar – albeit smaller – event to discuss issues affecting the city today. It was a lively meeting, with lots of ideas from the panel and arising from Q&A session, followed by drinks and nibbles with opportunity for further discussion.
Panel members were:
- Phil Hewitt (chair): Arts Editor of the Chichester Observer
- Mark Elliott: Festival of Chichester Administrator
- Simon Holland, Interim Dean of Chichester
- Richard Plowman: Former Councillor and Mayor of Chichester, currently Chichester Town Crier.
- Mark Mason: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience)of the university of Chichester
We will produce a summary of the main ideas and issues raised, with a plan for follow up.