Women's Super League side Brighton sign former Everton midfielder Inessa Kaagman on a one-year deal.

Image source, Getty Images

Health and council officials in East Sussex say they are seeing a “fluctuation of relatively small numbers” of coronavirus cases in Eastbourne.

The weekly infection rate has fluctuated in the seaside resort from between 10 and 24 cases per 100,000 people since the beginning of June – and the overall trend has not risen.

In a joint statement, Eastbourne Borough Council, East Sussex County Council and Public Health England said at no point during this period have there been more than six new cases a day in Eastbourne.

They said a number of recent positive tests in the resort have been in hospital or other care settings where they are “carefully managed”.

“We are working closely together to do all we can to control the situation across all our communities,” the statement added.

PC Richard Harris just avoided crashing into two vehicles before hitting a 79-year-old pedestrian.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he had seen a "torrent of online hate" and abusive calls to his staff.

The families of men injured in care aim to begin legal proceedings to uncover what happened to them.

Brighton will need one point from their remaining two games to ensure safety after Danny Ings denies them victory at Southampton.

Image source, Lambeth Palace Chapel / YouTube

Two new bishops for Sussex have been consecrated in live-streamed services.

The Reverend Ruth Bushyager officially became the new Bishop of Horsham, and the Reverend Will Hazlewood took on the role of Bishop of Lewes.

Both services were live-streamed from the chapel at Lambeth Palace.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, hosted the consecration, which took place in the chapel rather than a cathedral, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Only close family members were invited to witness the services in person.

The Reverend Hugh Nelson, vicar of St Mary’s, Goudhurst and Kilndown, was also consecrated to serve as Bishop of St Germans in Truro, Cornwall.

Image source, Lambeth Palace Chapel / YouTube

David Ormesher, 79, was hit by a police car that was being driven "too fast", a tribunal hears.

Brighton & Hove Albion sign 15-year-old forward Zak Emmerson from Oldham Athletic for an undisclosed fee.

Image source, Worthing Borough Council

Leisure facilities in Worthing will partly reopen later this month.

South Downs Leisure, which operates Worthing Leisure Centre, Splashpoint, Field Place Manor House and Barns and Davison Leisure Centre, have said all four centres will reopen in some form from 25 July.

Exercise classes, squash, badminton, tennis and gym facilities will all be available, but the swimming pools at Splashpoint will temporarily remain closed.

Councillor Edward Crouch, Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for digital and environmental services, said: “Reopening facilities after four months is not an easy task.

“While I appreciate that some will be disappointed the swimming pools will not immediately reopen, the safety of staff and customers must come first in these unprecedented times.”

Local Facebook groups raise money to help a family after a fire destroyed their home.

AC Milan’s Finnish midfielder Nora Heroum signs for WSL side Brighton on a one-year deal.

Image source, Twitter

A councillor on Brighton and Hove City Council has been suspended from the Labour Party after accusations over anti-Semitic posts on social media.

A complaint was made to the national party about two posts shared by Anne Pissaridou in 2016 and 2018.

The national Labour Party said it will carry out an investigation and until the matter is resolved Ms Pissaridou has been suspended.

She will continue to represent her ward as an independent councillor, the council said.

Ms Pissaridou said: “I am deeply sorry for my actions and any distress I have caused to the Jewish community.

“This happened several years ago, before I was a councillor, and the posts I shared do not reflect my views.

“I do not seek to excuse my mistake. I deeply regret not properly reading information before sharing such hurtful links."

Karen Dunn
Local Democracy Reporter

Image source, Google

Labour and Conservative leaders at Crawley Borough Council, which is facing a multi-million-pound gap in its finances due to the coronavirus pandemic, have come to an agreement over the running of the authority until the 2021 elections.

Peter Lamb and Duncan Crow met when the council moved into no overall control after Labour councillors Karen Sudan and Rory Fiveash quit the party to become Independents.

Their decision left the council with 17 Conservative councillors, 16 Labour and two independents, with one seat vacant following the death of Geraint Thomas in November.

In a joint statement, Mr Lamb and Mr Crow said the council would keep a Labour administration but Mr Crow and his shadow cabinet would have greater rights and powers, and the next town mayor would be from the Conservatives.

“We are in the midst of a pandemic, with thousands of local jobs at risk, and a multi-million pound budget gap in the council’s finances has opened up in the fight against Covid-19.

“In these unprecedented times, we as elected representatives owe it to those we serve to put party politics to one side and focus on getting the town through this crisis."

Four workers are questioned by police over the alleged mistreatment of 12 residents.

A further £1m is being paid out to businesses in Adur and Worthing to help them bounce back from the setbacks caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 132 organisations in the area have benefited from grants of up to £25,000, with funds due to be transferred this week, Adur and Worthing Councils said.

Image source, Getty Images

Those in line to get the handouts include retail and leisure firms, manufacturers and creative start-ups.

Half a million pounds still remains to be distributed, and applications to claim a portion of the sum are being invited until 19 July.

To be successful, firms will need to show they have been significantly impacted due to Covid-19 and highlight how their business contributes to the wider local economy.

A spokesman for the councils said: “We realise the huge economic impact that Covid-19 has had on the area and want to support as many firms as possible through this challenging time.

“That's why we're encouraging all those who have not yet received grant support to apply for this one-off funding.”

Sarah Booker-Lewis
Local Democracy Reporter

Drivers are parking cars on city centre pavements widened to help with social distancing, councillors in Brighton and Hove have been told.

Pavements were widened in June as part of the government-led programme, ready for when more shops started reopening across the country.

In Brighton, wider pavements were introduced in Middle Street, Duke Street, Ship Street, Prince Albert Street and East Street in the Lanes, and along London Road and St James’s Street.

East Street is also a pedestrian zone from 11:00 BST to 19:00 BST Saturday and Sunday.

Green councillor Tom Druitt was contacted by a resident who shared photographs of barriers used to mark out the wider pavements moved out of the way for parked cars on 27 June.

During the last weekend, drivers ignored the 11:00 BST road closure, and the social distancing barriers were “in pieces”, councillors heard.

Councillor Druitt said: “The issue in East Street is not just anti-social parking restricting social distancing, it’s anti-social parking plus A-boards on narrow pavements, meaning wheelchair access is impossible."

Labour councillor Anne Pissaridou, chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “We have made a number of changes to help the city reopen healthier, safer and stronger, including new temporary cycle lanes and widening pavements.

“We are aware that there has been a recent issue with pavement parking in the city and have been issuing warning notices to vehicles parked on the pavement since the changes.

“Signs in the area will be replaced and any vehicles continuing to park there may be issued with a penalty charge notice.

“We all need to help each other through this time, so that the reopened Brighton and Hove is safe for everyone, so I would urge everyone to follow the guidance on the new signs and not to park on pavements in the city.”

David Ormesher, 79, died after being hit by a police car in Brighton, a disciplinary panel hears.

Sarah Booker-Lewis
Local Democracy Reporter

An emergency budget may be held as increased spending and lost income because of the Covid-19 crisis has left a £49m hole in Brighton and Hove City Council’s finances.

The pandemic was directly responsible for almost £38m in extra spending and lost income, finance chief Nigel Manvell told the city council’s Policy and Resources Committee.

Mr Manvell said that the council was working on the assumption that, even with some level of recovery and government support, it would still need to make up £23m for this year’s budget.

Increased pressure on adult social care services had resulted in a £13.5m overspend, he told the committee during a “virtual” meeting.

And lost income from parking and events had cost the council almost £26m, he said. The council had also added £4.2 million to the budget for personal protective equipment (PPE).

Mr Manvell presented councillors with three scenarios – optimistic, moderate and worst case – requiring one-off funding of between £17 million and £39 million.

To save money, the council was pausing capital projects. These would be reviewed in October.

All the latest coronavirus news from across Sussex, Kent and Surrey.