Q: Hello Mr Oliver, in view of RDC declaring a Climate Emergency, and having the highest CO2 emissions in East Sussex. Could you please explain the Councils position on the following questions please? With 38,800 households in RDC and a Government…

A: The Council is committed to climate action but has no funding mechanism for this proposal. The Council is working on measures to support residents who cannot afford to make material changes to their homes. These residents will then benefit from…

Q: I’m writing to ask if your council has declared a climate emergency? And if so, would the council be willing to adopt a ‘Low Carbon Advertising and Sponsorship Policy’ to meet this aim? Advertising fuels the climate crisis by creating…

A: We encourage suggestions to make our practices more environmentally friendly and welcome the enquiry. RDC does not, however, currently control any advertising sites in the district but should we acquire any in the future, advertising policy will support our wider…

Q: Is there chance that refuse collection operatives could stop leaving the bins blocking the pavement? I have contacted Customer Services several times about the issue but no change. It can’t be hard to put the bins back in the original…

A: This will be raised with Biffa as a general issue but it would be really helpful if you could take photos showing container presentation point and then container return point, date and type of collection i.e. refuse or recycling garden…

Q: When will the district and county council be taking legal action against the water companies such as Southern Water who have a total disregard for the environment, coastal sewage spills and leaks. They are polluting our water, undermining the local…

A: The Rother CEO and myself met with local MP’s and Southern Water following the recent sewage release into the seas at Bexhill and will be progressing this matter at a high level to seek improvement to bathing water quality and…

Q: I understand that households are or will receive a £150 energy rebate, via their council tax bill. Who is or will be eligible? How will it be paid? (12/07/2022)

A: Full details on the Council Tax Energy Rebate scheme can be found on our website at £150 Council Tax Energy Rebate – Rother District Council. (12/07/2022)

Q: On 6 Jun, you took my £100 in payment for my garden waste removal. On 30 Jun, I received an e/m thanking me for renewing the subscription. It stated the ‘No permit, no collection’ policy and if these stickers are…

A: Due to a small system error we had to delay taking garden waste payments this year which unfortunately meant a delay to the sending of permit stickers. As you are aware the stickers have now been dispatched and should be…

Q: I have received a letter dated 22 April “accusing” me of non payment of council tax and threatening subsequent legal proceedings. If one of your team should check my account, they will find that on 8 April (two weeks before…

A: Unfortunately there was an issue with the Council’s Finance system resulting in payments made by residents on the 8th and 9th of April not being credited to the relevant residents Council Tax account.  As a result some residents received a…

Q: When Bexhill beach dog ban comes in on 1st May who’s responsible for enforcing it? There often seems to be dogs on the banned areas during the summer and I’ve never seen nor heard of anyone being asked to leave…

A: It is the Coastal Operations Officers responsibility, along with the Beach Patrol Team, to speak with dog walkers on the beach when they see the rules being flouted. This they do on a regular basis during the season but it…

Q: I understand that RDC is evicting Rye Hire from Cyprus Place, Rye in order to build 10 dwellings with only 40% of them to be ‘affordable’ housing. I’m against this project and plan as Rye DIY has nowhere else to…

A: We have had on-going discussions with Rye Hire for some time and fully understand why the business is important to Rye. As a result, we have recently been working closely with Rye Hire and our architects to look at whether…

Q: I am writing to urge you to please help protect the rights of those living within your area by supporting the continuation of a lawful activity which sometimes takes place on council owned land. With an extraordinary lack of objectivity…

A: Trail hunting does not occur on any land owned or managed by the authority, therefore the Council does not have a policy on this matter. (10/12/2021)