Articles for the past week:

Leader:  We’ve been cheeky!

We are used to having our motions to Council automatically rejected by Worthing’s Tories and we fully expect the same on Tuesday when three of our motions are considered. In order to try combat this automatic dismisal we have cheekily plagiarised one proposed by the Tories at the last West Sussex County Council. It will be interesting to see how the Tory Cabinet reacts especially Steven Waight, Cabinet Member for Resources, who being a County Councillor voted for the motion at West Sussex.

The Tory motion was to drive economic development throughout West Sussex, which is something the Liberal Democrat group have been calling for, for sometime at meetings of the Strategic Environment select committee (SES). Not wanting to forget the visitor and tourism economy, which is an essential ingredient in the County’s vision for growth, Senior Liberal Democrat Councillor Dr Nigel Dennis, who is also Vice Chair of the SES committee proposed a simple amendment to include tourism as a major focus for the strategy. West Sussex Tory Councillors representing all areas of the County took to their feet and lined up to speak against the two word amendment ‘including tourism’, which was sadly voted down by Tory members. But the original motion without the Lib Dem amendment was supported by all parties and passed unaminously. 

Tourism is of particular importance to Worthing so our motion on Tuesday retains the amended wording:

“This council notes that the continued sluggish performance of the UK economy is mirrored in Worthing’s local economy.  The Council therefore believes it is imperative to do all it can to support businesses locally especially tourism and drive economic development, consistent with the Council’s on-going commitment to reduce spending in support of the Government’s deficit reduction plans.

The Council therefore asks the Deputy Leader to:

(1) discuss with West Sussex County Council, district and borough partners, the three sub-regional partnerships and the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, the potential for increased co-ordinated activity to stimulate the business actvity and growth;

(2) bring forward as a matter of urgency proposals for key investments in infrastructure and other developments which would bring a significant, long-term benefit to Worthing’s local economy

(3) further, the Council asks the Cabinet Member for Resources to assist the Deputy Leader in bringing forward the proposals by making available resources from capital.”

Our two other motions are: (a) minimum pricing for alcohol and (b) banning of smoking in children’s outdoor play areas.  The Tory Cabinet has already recommended rejection of the minimum pricing for alcohol but the smoking ban may cause the Tories to hesitate as there is currently a school children’s display against smoking in the Town Hall lobby.

We will report on all three next week and you will see if we are right to have been cheeky.        

Worthing Liberal Democrats 

NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK

FUEL POVERTY – LIB DEM BOB SMYTHERMAN CALLS ON CABINET MEMBER TO ACT NOW

Monday 5th December –  Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing Bob Smytherman has today called on his Tory opposite number to act now on fuel poverty.  Figures released last week indicated one in four households are now living in fuel poverty.  Fuel poverty is defined as households spending over 10% of income on energy – more than five million households are having to do so. The Green Deal under which every home will be able to install packages of energy saving technologies such as insulation at no upfront cost does not start to next year – too late for the coming winter. That is why Bob is today calling on Cabinet Member Tom Wye to act now and will question him at the next Council meeting on December 13th on what progress he has made since the Fuel Poverty report was agreed a year ago
Bob who is a member of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition is backing a UK wide campaign called ‘Surviving Winter’ allowing those who don’t need it to donate their Winter Fuel Payment to help the fuel poor.
Bob said: “Worthing residents suffering in fuel poverty do not deserve to wait to next year before that suffering is relieved. That is why I am today calling on the Cabinet Member to act now – indeed I hope and trust he already has taken action.  I will be rigorously questioning the Cabinet Member at Council on that action or lack of it.  As we enter winter those suffering deserve nothing less.  The campaign is being co-ordinated by community foundations across the UK and I will be urging the Cabinet Member to promote this throughout Worthing to raise awareness of this fantastic scheme.”  (Bob Smytherman Press Release)

West Sussex Endorse Next Round Of Bus Service Cuts

Thursday 7th December –  Contrary to the headlines from the recent County Council press release, only the Conservative members of the Strategic Environmental Services Select Committee supported the recommendation put forward for a second phase of bus subsidy reductions. All three Liberal Democrat members on the Committee voted against the proposal which will leave many people without a bus service from April 2012. 
Derek Deedman, Liberal Democrat County Councillor for the Bramber Castle Division, said: “The Conservatives say they have no option to making these cuts, but the Liberal Democrats proposed an amendment to the Council Budget for 2011/12 in February which the Conservatives voted down.  If it had been accepted this would have enabled these bus cuts to be avoided, whilst still achieving the overall savings the Council has to make. Many West Sussex residents without access to a car will now not have a bus service in the evenings or on a Sunday or to get children to & from school from April next year. In some areas, such as Steyning and Upper Beeding in my Division, local people could be entirely isolated from other parts of the County unless the bus companies operate some of the services at a loss. And for how long will they do that?”  (Bob Smytherman Press Release)

DIARY

Tuesday 13th December – WBC Council Meeting – Council Chamber, Town Hall at 6.00 pm

Wednesday 14th December – Lib Dem Northbrook/Durrington Ward Surgery – “The North Star”, Littlehampton Road 7.30 to 8.30 pm

Friday 16th December – WSCC Council Meeting – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am   (meeting will be webcast)

Saturday 17th December – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – St Richards, Collingwood Road, Goring 10.00 to 10.30 am

Saturday 17th December – Lib Dem Gaisford/Tarring Castle Wards Surgery – West Worthing Baptist Church, South Street, Tarring 10.30 to 11.30 am 

 FURTHER AHEAD

Monday 19th December – WBC Standards Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm                          

Tuesday 20th December – Lib Dem Durrington Surgery – New Life Church, Durrington 7.00 to 8.00 pm and every third Tuesday of the month

Wednesday 21st December – WBC Planning Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm 

Saturday 7th January – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – St Pauls Centre, Chapel Road 10.30 am to 12.00 noon and every first Saturday of the month 

Saturday 7th January – Lib Dem Broadwater Surgery – The Community House, Dominion Road 2.00 to 4.00 pm and every first Saturday of the month

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