Comment: What Chichester Needs in the King’s Speech

Parliament is set to prorogue this week, returning in mid-May for the King’s Speech and the official opening of the next parliamentary session. This is an opportunity for the government of the day to set out its intentions for the next year or so, and the legislation it intends to bring forward. 

This session is unique in the number of government bills that are yet to be completed and will be carried over to the next session. Typically, one or two bills that have not completed their passage are carried over. This time, we are expecting a staggering seven, including the highly contentious Courts and Tribunals Bill, which contains the erosion of one’s right to a jury trial, as well as the long-awaited Hillsborough Law. 

Jess Brown-Fuller is calling for greater government action to tackle local issues.

In the King’s Speech, I am hoping to see further legislation tackling the crisis in our polluted waterways and properly holding water companies to account for their failures, as well as a Family Courts Bill that will improve the experience for my constituents who are currently trapped in a broken system that often fails the people it was designed to protect. We are also expecting a Bill to reform the special educational needs system, something I intend to scrutinise alongside families and educators in the constituency to ensure we get the best outcomes for our local children. 

I am looking forward to spending more time in the run-up to the local elections on May 7th, out knocking on doors and talking to constituents about the issues that matter to them, alongside some brilliant council candidates. Over the last weekend, the issue of potholes came up more than any other local issue. Why are there so many of them? Why do they take so long to be filled? Why, when they are filled, do they disintegrate so quickly? 

The average bill for a motorist falling foul of an unrepaired pothole is an eye-watering £320, with some paying over £1,000 for repairs. The government has introduced a traffic light system, with West Sussex County Council achieving an ‘amber’ rating in its ability to manage the roads effectively. But the only way to really move off the merry-go-round of short-term and expensive repairs is to invest in longer-term preventative measures, such as resurfacing the most affected roads.  

I look forward to more conversations about local issues in the run-up to the County Council elections. A reminder to take an accepted form of ID with you to your polling station on May 7th.