Annual Town Meeting 2025: thank you!

Thank you to everybody who attended our Annual Town Meeting on Wednesday 19 March. The Council Chamber was packed and we were delighted that so many residents came along to celebrate the town and to ask their questions to the council.

The evening started with the Civic Awards Ceremony, where the Mayor, Councillor Imogen Makepeace, gave out awards to five members of the community who had been nominated by their fellow residents for their service to the community.

The awards went to:

• Christopher Burt, for his dedication to wildflowers and biodiversity in South Malling churchyard where he also teaches scything.
• The STEM festival team, for volunteering to help at the festival encouraging young people to have in interest in science, technology, engineering and maths.
• Pete Bull, for his work with the Lewes Football Foundation and raising money to improve facilities at the club.
• Jean Lawrence, Chair of the Lewes Area Access Group, for being an advocate for disability rights.
• Bill Elms, for volunteering for Cuckmere Community Bus and organising the Ukulele group in Lewes who provide free entertainment for local groups and teaching people how to play for free.

Attendees were treated to a rendition of Bring Me Sunshine from the Lewekulele group members who attended to celebrate Bill at the end of the ceremony!

After a break for locally sourced refreshments including apple juice from Ringmer Community Orchard, brownies from Guns and Posies and coffee from Tigermoth Roastery, the Annual Town meeting began.

During the Annual Town Meeting, the Mayor presented Lewes Town Council’s latest Annual Report, detailing the council’s activities from the last year.

She also welcomed Councillor Emily O’Brien Cabinet member from Lewes District Council for who presented a report on Lewes District Counci’s sustainability activities for the last year, and Andrew Turner and Ed Jennings from East Sussex Highways, representing East Sussex County Council. Their presentations can be seen below.

This was followed by the public Q&A, where questions submitted in advance were answered before taking questions from the floor. Full details of questions and answers can be found in the draft meeting minutes which have been published on our minutes and agendas page.