Lewes Town Council Annual Town Meeting 2026

The evening opened with the Civic Awards Ceremony, where the Mayor, Councillor Emily Clarke, presented awards to six members of the community who had been nominated by fellow residents for their exceptional service.

You can read more about the Civic Award winners in our dedicated news post.

After a short break for locally sourced refreshments—including apple juice from Ringmer Community Orchard and savoury canapés prepared by Seven Sisters’ Spices—the Annual Town Meeting commenced.

During the meeting, the Mayor presented a report on her mayoral activities and summarised the Council’s work over the past year. This was followed by a public Q&A session, beginning with questions submitted in advance and continuing with questions from the floor.

Before the questions from the public began we heard from some amazing young people from Green United which is a community based organisation in Lewes, created by young people to address the climate emergency. Led by a youth board, it drives local environmental projects, such as clean air maps and wildlife planting, with support from schools and residents. A group of three children presented their Big Ask which was all about the littering of cigarette butts, they have come up with a solution of how to collect discarded cigarette butts using special bins where the cigarette could be stubbed out and then dropped into the special bin. These would then be attached to existing normal bins. We then heard from a child who presented his Big Ask of making fireworks used in Lewes more environmentally friendly by ensuring that they don't contain any plastic and the toxic chemicals. They all spoke so well and presented their ideas clearly alongside beautiful eye-catching posters. Councillor Wendy Maples who is a Town, District and County Councillor said that they would be happy to explore their ideas.

The Q&A session began with questions that had been submitted in advance. One resident asked about the future of family friendly spaces and play in the town and how the Council might support them. The Mayor encouraged anyone with ideas or feedback to speak directly with councillors or alternatively to contact the Town Hall so that suggestions can be gathered and explored further. The Town Council are committed to supporting local playgroups and have shared their call out for volunteers.

Another resident submitted a question in advance of the meeting asking whether the Council endorses the Together Alliance’s message of hope over hate and whether they are actively challenging narratives of division and racism and working with human rights campaign groups in the town. The Mayor replied to this question by saying that the Council apposes all racism and division. It is also on the agenda for the next Full Council meeting on 2 April.

Another advance question related to support for ambulances for Ukraine. The Mayor explained that a fundraising initiative is currently being developed as part of her Mayoral programme. The proposal will be presented for approval at the Full Council meeting on 2 April.

The meeting then moved on to questions from the floor. The first centred on housing and future development in Lewes. A resident asked whether more could be done to create a comprehensive masterplan for the allocation of new homes across the town—one that would be supported by both the community and the Council. The Mayor clarified that all planning matters must follow the proper democratic process through the Planning Committee and, where necessary, Full Council. Councillor Edwina Livesey invited residents to engage actively with the ongoing conversations about what types of development would and would not work for Lewes. Councillor Adrian Ross added that the ideas raised could potentially be incorporated into the emerging Neighbourhood Plan, while Councillor Imogen Makepeace encouraged residents to continue discussing their concerns with their ward councillors.

Another question focused on the impact of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and how it might change the role of the Town Council. The Mayor noted that the Council is currently considering its assets and responsibilities but that its formal powers are unlikely to change significantly. Councillor Wendy Maples expanded on this, explaining that although Town and Parish Councils may take on additional tasks as the wider structure of local government evolves, these changes will not be on the same scale as those affecting the District Council. She added that she valued the stability that the Town Council brings during a period of wider change. A follow-up question was raised about whether funding would be passed down accordingly from the District Council.

The final question came from a resident who shared personal concerns about racism, discrimination and feeling unsupported when trying to raise these issues with elected representatives. They expressed distress about their experiences and a sense of not being heard. The Mayor thanked the resident for bringing such an important subject to the meeting and acknowledged the significance of ensuring that all members of the community feel safe, respected and able to access support.