Put it in your diary
Rye’s annual town meeting is on Wednesday 4 March. This year it will be in the Rye Community Centre on Conduit Hill from 6.30pm.
The meeting is organised by Rye Town Council. The agenda and details of how to get involved will be published soon.
Budget discussions
Rother District Council is set to increase its part of the Council Tax by 2.99% – an extra £6.30 a year on a Band D property.
Council leader Doug Oliver said, “Increasing the burden on the public is not something anyone in local government wants to do but it is becoming increasingly necessary to enable us to deliver those vital public services that people rely upon. But even with the Council Tax increase, we will have to make further savings to deliver a balanced budget and this year a raft of proposals is planned to save the council nearly £690,000.”
The final decision will be made at a meeting of the full council on Monday 23 February.
Moving on
The Bishop of Chichester, the Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner, has announced he will step down in May this year.
Appointed to the diocese in 2012, he said it had been an enormous privilege to work with so many gifted and committed people. “A new diocesan bishop will bring fresh vision and energy, and be supported by a strong, confident team. I give thanks to God for the call to serve in this diocese and also ask pardon from anyone I have offended. I will hold this joyful household of faith in my prayers as its future unfolds.”
Bishop Martin recently presided over the induction of Reverend Nathanael Hayler as the new Rector of Winchelsea, Icklesham and Pett. The service at St Thomas’ took place on 28 January.
The process to find is replacement is expected to take at least a year. The Bishop of Lewes will take on the formal duties of acting bishop.
Crime file
A car was damaged on Denham Way in Camber last week. Tyres were let down and the windscreen broken on the vehicle on either Monday 2 or Tuesday 3 February.
Police are appealing for witnesses.
Reuse, recycle, repair
The Rye Repair Cafe is this weekend – Saturday 14 February from 10am to 2pm at the Rye Community Centre on Conduit Hill.
The team can fix clocks, radios, small kitchen appliances, clothes, bikes, knives and scissors for sharpening, but don’t bring anything with a petrol engine.
The Rye Repair Cafe is also seeking more volunteer repairers. Contact them at ryerepaircafe@gmail.com if you’re interested in finding out more.
Image Credits: David McLoughlin , Stuart Harland , Diocese of Chichester , Sussex Police , Dominic Manning .