My second column as Leader must recognise what an excellent opportunity the Platinum Jubilee created for the community to join together in a way that really hasn’t happened on this scale since before Covid and lockdown.

It was a huge pleasure to travel to different street parties and events across the Borough over the four day weekend and see first-hand people coming together.  I was also hugely impressed with the thought and effort put in by local people to make it a huge success.  Crawley Borough Council helped in part by putting together bumper celebration packs so many parties could go with a swing, and it was a delight seeing them in use!

The Crawley Community Awards then took place on the following Tuesday, where the best of our voluntary groups, charities and individuals doing their best for others was celebrated.  It was in turn, uplifting, inspiring, touching and at times deeply moving.

It is too easy to miss much of the amazing work that goes on around us, because it is done by unsung heroes who seek no recognition or reward for it.  I hope this goes some way to redress the balance.  I am tremendously proud of being the Cabinet Member who gave the go ahead for the first awards back in 2016.  It has now completed its seventh successful ceremony and continues to be an enormous success.

We finally finished with polling day for the Southgate by-election, where I’m delighted that Labour candidate Bob Noyce won convincingly with over half of the votes cast.  Not only will Bob be an outstanding councillor, the result is a continuing vote of confidence that local people have in their Labour council here in Crawley as well as a further rejection of the disgraceful record of the national Tory government and the behaviour of Boris Johnson, in particular.

That Labour has now re-established and increased its majority on the council is both good for the Borough and for the running of the council going forward.  It means despite the challenges for the borough ahead, we can go forward with renewed optimism.

Cllr Michael Jones

Leader, Crawley Borough Council