Local Democracy Unwrapped

Saturday 5 April – Saturday 19 April, FREE
Lewes Climate Hub, 32 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2LU

At a time of potentially massive change in local government and threats to democracy around the world, join Lewes Climate Hub for a season exploring how to make democracy work for us and the planet.

Saturday 5 April – Democracy in Lewes

11am-12pm: Question Time with James MacCleary MP
In a special Question Time focusing on climate and the environment, come and ask Lewes MP James MacCleary your questions relating to nature, food, energy or transport in Lewes, and what’s happening with government policy in these areas. All ages welcome!

1.30pm-2.30pm: All change in Local Government?
Town, District and County Councillor Wendy Maples leads discussion on what the proposed Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex and Brighton might mean for Lewes. What could it mean for decision-making and funding in areas such as housing, transport and the environment? Does it mean the end of our district council, and are the proposals, as some have said, ‘the death knell for local democracy’?

What is the proposed Mayoral Combined Authority?

In response to the government’s programme to devolve more decision-making and funding to local communities, leaders of East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council have applied to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority, which will cover a population of around 1.7 million.

Potentially called the Sussex and Brighton Combined County Authority, this will have decision-making powers in areas including housing, highways and transport, environment and climate change, health, and public safety. The authority will be led by an elected mayor, with the first mayoral elections potentially held by May 2026. Public consultation on the plans is underway and will close on Sunday 13 April.

Saturday 12 April – Rights for Nature

1pm-3pm: Workshop: Implementing the Ouse River Charter
Should nature have a voice in our democratic processes and if so, how? Join Love our Ouse’s Josh Levene for an interactive session to help shape the implementation of the pioneering Charter of Rights for the River Ouse recently passed by Lewes District Council.
Photo: Love our Ouse

What is the Ouse River Charter?

In all the debates on green issues, the one voice consistently missing is that of nature’s itself. People often speak for nature, but it does not yet have its own active, independent and influential voice. There is a growing movement in the UK for nature to be included in decisions which affect it – both in the public and private sector.

For the first time, the Charter for the river Ouse brings nature into the local democratic process. The Charter proposes that the river Ouse should have a say in decisions which affect it. What are the implications of this? Which decisions should it be involved in? How can its voice be active and influential versus mute and tokenistic? How can its voice be independent and not influenced by human interests? This interactive session will give people a chance to explore these issues and help shape the implementation of the Ouse River Charter. 

Saturday 19 April - Past, Present and Future

12pm-1pm: Creating a Centre for Democracy in Lewes
Bull House in Lewes was the one-time home of radical thinker Thomas Paine, known for works such as ‘The Rights of Man’ and a key figure in the American and French Revolutions. Come and discuss the potential for honouring his memory by setting up a Centre for Democracy at Bull House.

1pm-2.30pm: Discussion with Compass: Why bother voting?
At a time when democracy seems to be under threat across the world, Alison Jeffery (pictured) of the local group for the campaigning organisation Compass facilitates a discussion about the role of different levels of local and national government, and why voting in elections still matters. FREE

Compass is a campaigning group seeking to bring together people who want to build a society where equality, sustainability and democracy are a living reality. It is founded on the belief that no single political party has the answers, and works with representatives across the political spectrum and local communities in order to make the UK’s political and democratic system fit for our times. www.compassonline.org.uk