Over the summer of 2014, all Horsham residents will receive a letter through the post telling them about the biggest change to the electoral registration system in nearly 100 years.

Horsham District Council’s Electoral Services Team will write to over 101,000 residents in the Horsham district explaining that a new, more secure, system of Individual Electoral Registration is being introduced to replace the old Victorian system where the “head of household” registered everyone living in a property. Now, each individual will be responsible for registering themselves.

Many residents will automatically move onto the new electoral register. However, some will need to take action to join or remain on it, which they will now also be able to do for the first time by registering quickly and easily online.

Tom Crowley, Horsham District Council Chief Executive and Electoral Registration Officer, said:

“Horsham residents will receive a letter around 26-30 July that will explain the change to the electoral registration system. Look out for the letter as it will tell you if you have been automatically transferred to the new register or not. If you have not been transferred, you will need to provide some additional information and the letter will tell you exactly what you need to do.”

Samantha Mills, Head of Campaigns at the Electoral Commission, said:

“This summer the Electoral Commission will launch a major advertising campaign that will raise awareness of the change to Individual Electoral Registration. We welcome this change, which will lead to a more secure register and replace the outdated Victorian concept that a single ‘head of household’ is responsible for registering everyone.”

For more information visit www.gov.uk/yourvotematters . If you do not receive a letter contact Horsham District Council’s Electoral Services team on 01403 212126 or email: elections@horsham.gov.uk.

Horsham District will commemorate the Centenary of the start of World War 1 with a series of remembrance events on 3 and 4 August.  Unlike euphoria that met the actual declaration of the war amongst the public, these will be a days of reflection and remembrance.

Just as the war itself drew the community together, the 3 and 4 August will reflect that spirit through a series of events for the community to remember the sacrifice and service of all those who served in the Great War, from land army and munitions girls, to those who paid the ultimate price. The two days will pay tribute to those who served and survived, fought and died.

On Sunday 3 August at 6:30pm at St Mary’s Parish Church, The Causeway, Horsham there will be a multi-denominational Evensong remembering the outbreak of the Great War.One hundred years ago, the Church, reflecting the community’s thoughts, actively encouraged people to serve, arguing that the war was a righteous one against evil. Today, a more reflective tone is taken and the service will reflect how a current generation think of the war.

On Monday 4August, reflecting the unadorned life 100 years ago, Horsham Museum will be staging a sober exhibition and associated activities.

The Chairman of Horsham District Council, Cllr Brian O’Connell, will open the day-long exhibition held in Horsham Park Barn by the side of Horsham Park. There, he will sign a book of reflection and remembrance, the first of many visitors, as the book will allow those who want to comment space to do so, as they reflect upon or remember their ancestors’ service.

The book itself will become a permanent reminder of the centenary. After signing the book the Chairman will then light a candle and place it at Horsham Park’s poppy field. Throughout the day members of the public will be able to light candles and have time in front of the poppy field to reflect. The exhibition will close at 6pm.

In the afternoon, The Capitol, North Street, Horsham will be showing a film based on the events of the Great War.

It was during the First World War that the cinema came in to its own as film portrayed the horrors of the Western Front. The cinema also became an escape mechanism, enabling people to lose themselves in the film.

The day itself will end with a concert organised by the Royal British Legion held in the Drill Hall, Denne Road, Horsham – a building designed by and paid for by the officers for the men of the 4^th Battalion.

The Royal British Legion, born out of World War One, is a unique institution, for in the rest of the world the state stepped in to look after the war wounded after their recovery, but in Britain they relied on charity and so the Royal British Legion was formed. The concert will include, amongst other works, Elgar’s Nimrod and music from World War One. Aimed at as wide an audience as possible, the tickets will only be £8 with concessions.

In 1914, the nation was going to commemorate the Centenary of the end of the Napoleonic War, when in 1814 Horsham held a Peace Dinner for 3,000 people – the outbreak of World War One put a halt to that. Thankfully under more peaceful circumstances in 2014 the town can commemorate the start of World War One and in doing so pay tribute to those who served.

Members of the public can find out more about how to express their views on the recently approved Proposed Submission document at an exhibition that will be held in Swan Walk Shopping Centre in June.

Councillors as well as officers from the Council will be on hand to answer questions about the draft 20 year strategy for housing and jobs for the Horsham District, which is now in a period of representation until Friday 27 June 2014.

This period gives people the opportunity to provide an independent Planning Inspector with their views on the Plan and make any suggested changes that would help to improve it.

Representations can also be made on the legal or procedural compliance of the Plan and whether it conforms with the Duty to Co-operate.

The exhibition will be held in Unit 65 in Swan Walk Shopping Centre opposite Country Casuals on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 June from 2pm to 6pm and on Saturday 7 June from 10am to 4pm.

Representations should be sent to Horsham District Council by 4pm on Friday 27 June. All comments received, together with a summary of the main issues raised, will be given to the Secretary of State alongside the Horsham District Planning Framework and relevant supporting evidence.

The documents, representations and the summary of issues raised will be considered as part of the Public Examination by an Independent Planning Inspector which will take place this autumn.

If the document is agreed by the Planning Inspector, it is anticipated that the Horsham District Planning Framework will be adopted by the Council in April 2015.

A form has been prepared to help people submit their representations so that it is clear to the Inspector what changes are requested and why. Representations can be made by visiting the Council’s website (www.horsham.gov.uk), where they can be submitted electronically using the form provided.

Representations can also be emailed to strategic.planning@horsham.gov.uk or by post to the Strategic Planning Team at Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1RL.

To find out more about the period of representation, visit the Council’s website www.horsham.gov.uk, email strategic.planning@horsham.gov.uk or call 01403 215398.

Members of the public will be able to express their views on the recently-approved Proposed Submission, the draft 20 year strategy for housing and jobs for the Horsham District, during a period of representation that will run from Friday 16 May to Friday 27 June 2014.

The period of representation gives people the opportunity to support or object to the content of the document, setting out what changes they would like made and why to overcome any objection.

Representations can also be made on the legal or procedural compliance of the Plan and whether it conforms with the Duty to Cooperate.

Comments should be sent to Horsham District Council by 4pm on Friday 27 June. All comments received, together with a summary of the main issues raised, will be given to the Secretary of State alongside the Horsham District Planning Framework and relevant supporting evidence.

Cllr Claire Vickers, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Living and Working Communities, said:

“I want to thank everyone for the comments that were expressed as part of the consultation period back in 2013.

“This new period of representation gives members of the public a chance to express any last views to the Planning Inspector on how the Plan can be improved or amended.”

The summary of issues raised will be considered as part of the Public Examination by an Independent Planning Inspector.

If the document is agreed by the Planning Inspector, it is anticipated that the Horsham District Planning Framework will be adopted by the Council in April 2015.

A form has been prepared to help people submit their representations so that it is clear to the Inspector what changes are requested and why. Representations can be made by visiting the Council’s website (www.horsham.gov.uk), where they can be submitted electronically using the form provided.

Representations can also be emailed to strategic.planning@horsham.gov.uk or by post to the Strategic Planning Team at Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1RL.

To find out more about the period of representation, visit the Council’s website www.horsham.gov.uk, email strategic.planning@horsham.gov.uk or call 01403 215398.

The Parish Council’s Annual Report for 2013/2014 can now be found on the website, as can the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Electors of the Parish.

Both can be found by clicking here.