WE GOT THEM TO REMOVE THE FULL EXEMPTION - NOW THEY MUST PAUSE THE LEASE DECISION!
Update: May 2, 2025 – 197 Supporters Strong: Act Now to Pause the Lease Decision for Fairness!
Dear Supporters,
We, Lucy Cooley, Christine Catt, and Mandi Lyons, directors of Come As You Are CIC, thank our 197 incredible supporters for driving our petition, “Let the Community In: Pause the Lease Decision, Protect Public Space in Egerton Park.” Your voices have secured a partial victory: following our petition, Rother District Council (RDC) removed the fully exempt status of the lease decision for the Elizabethan Pavilion, set for the Cabinet meeting on May 12, 2025, just 10 days away. With time running out, we urgently need your help to pause this decision to ensure transparency, clarify the Expression of Interest (EOI) process, and allow Cabinet members to fully grasp The Bexhill Nest’s inclusive vision as Applicant B.
The Bexhill Nest will transform the underused pavilion into a free, neuroaffirming hub for neurodivergent children and families, addressing unmet needs in Rother, where over 1,200 children have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). With sensory-safe spaces, a secure sensory garden, and peer-led support, it offers a welcoming space, as one supporter said, “There are so few places we can go without being judged.” Funded by £525,500 in potential grants, it costs RDC nothing and aligns with the RDC Council Plan 2025-2029’s goals for inclusive, sustainable communities.
We are concerned about procedural flaws:
Transparency Issues: The decision was initially exempt without the required 28-day notice, breaching The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) Regulations 2012 (Formal Concern, Section 2.1). The status change lacks public explanation.
Incomplete Reporting: The RDC report omits our hub’s vision and 197 supporters, risking misrepresentation to Cabinet (Formal Concern, Section 1.4-1.5).
Unanswered EOI Requests: Our March 26–April 25, 2025, requests for EOI details, lease terms, and criteria went unanswered, limiting engagement (Formal Concern, Section 3.1).
Pausing the decision is critical to ensure fairness and let Cabinet see our 197-supporter-backed plan, with partners like Rother Voluntary Action. With only 10 days left, please act now:
Sign the Petition: Join us at [https://www.change.org/p/let-the-community-in-pause-the-lease-decision-protect-public-space-in-egerton-park
Share Widely: Post with #BexhillNest and #EgertonPark on social media and in Bexhill groups.
Contact RDC: Urge Cabinet via www.rother.gov.uk to pause for transparency.
Stay Connected: Visit www.comeasyouarecic.co.uk for updates.
Your signature can make Egerton Park truly inclusive. Sign and share today!
Sincerely,
Lucy Cooley, Christine Catt, Mandi Lyons
Directors, Come As You Are CIC