Comment: Cutting red tape for businesses in Chichester

Nobody gets into business to waste time on red tape, form-filling and endless bureaucracy. Yet that's exactly what's happening in Chichester and across the county, with the average small business owner spending one full working week a year on tax administration alone. It's precious time that could be invested in actually running and growing their business.

I will be hosting a roundtable with local businesses on 26 August. The aim of the session is to understand what will help boost local businesses by identifying the bureaucratic dead weight that is costing them time and money, while safeguarding consumer protections, workers' rights and our ability to do business with our biggest trading partners in Europe. If you are a local business, of any sector, and would be able to attend and contribute, please email my office at Jess.brownfuller.mp@parliament.uk.

Jess meeting local business people for a coffee morning drop-in

Given that Parliament is in summer recess, I have more opportunity to spend time in the constituency and meet with organisations to highlight constituent concerns and issues.

That's exactly what I did this week when I met with Southern Rail and Network Rail at Chichester railway station. I raised a number of issues, including the lack of access for those with accessibility needs after the lift broke last autumn. I’m pleased to report that the lift has been improved and will be operational soon once the final checks have been completed, a relief I am sure for those that have struggled across the crossing for nearly a year! We also discussed my regular bugbear, the length of time the crossing barriers remain down, which the rail staff are very alive to. They recognise that persistent delays on their service means the barriers often remain down for two trains, which should not happen. We also discussed anti-social behaviour around the station and the effect of increasingly intense heatwaves on services.

Last Sunday was the Emergency Services, Armed Forces and Community Day on Oaklands Park, a fantastic event that is not only fun but also highlights the vital work undertaken by our emergency services and armed forces to keep people safe. I’d like to pay tribute to those that make the day a success, especially Anton Mezzone, the Station Manager at Chichester Fire Station and the organiser extraordinaire. Our emergency services continue to face significant challenges and resources are scarce, so we shouldn’t underestimate what goes in to creating such a fantastic day.

Last week, I focused my article on social care and Baroness Louise Casey, who is leading the social care review, has now launched her Big Conversation on Care, which allows members of the public to share their experiences. It is really important that as many voices feed in to this as possible, including care workers, family carers and those that have received care. The conversation can be found by searching online for the ‘Casey Commission Big Conversation’.