Leader: Buried in the undergrowth

News this past week:

1. More For The Piggy Bank
2. Housing – “I Prefer Going Private”
3. Housing – Can We Use Centenary House Site?
4. Blisterly Unaware
5. Montague Street – Back To The CLC
6. Second Runway At Gatwick

WORTHING LIBERAL DEMOCRATS NEWSLETTER 14TH TO 20TH JULY 2013

Leader: Buried in the undergrowth

Japanese Knotweed according to the Adur-Worthing councils’ website is the responsibility of the landowner or tenant of the land. The website goes on to say: “The local Council and Environment Agency are not obliged to control Knotweed on behalf of other landowners. If the Knotweed is affecting your land the best solution is to co-operate with your neighbours to try and control the problem together, by sharing costs and labour, for instance. Wherever possible it is best encourage co-operation and support within the community to control and prevent any further spread of the weed.”
This must all sound a bit hollow to Worthing resident John Clarke who has for several years pointed out to Worthing Borough Council the presence of Japanese Knotweed on the council’s own lands. Not only Knotweed but the infamous Giant Hogweed which causes blistering to the skin from its sap. John has informed the Council Japanese Knotweed is growing south of the railway line on the council owned statutory Chesswood allotments and the North Brooklands allotments. The most worrying aspect is it is running along the watercourse between the two sets of allotment gardens.
John also says Giant Hogweed has been growing north of the railway line for several years. The plant not only blisters the skin, but blocks watercourses and has water dispersed seeds that remain viable for many years. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to plant or cause Giant Hogweed to be grown in the wild.
Worthing Lib Dem Leader asked the Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Clive Roberts, at the last meeting whether he was aware of any Japanese Knotweed or Giant Hogweed growing on council owned lands. Cllr Roberts said he was not aware of any such growth which is strange considering John Clarke’s advices to the council over the years.
We are sending photos of the invasive species to Cllr Roberts as once again we help him get a grip on his portfolio. Hopefully he will instruct officers in line with the councils’ website advice “to co-operate with their neighbours and try and control the problem together.”
Worthing Lib Dems have brought the problem out into the light of day – let’s hope Worthing’s Tories don’t leave it buried in the undergrowth.

Worthing Liberal Democrats

NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK

MORE FOR THE PIGGY BANK

Tuesday 16th July – The Department of Communities & Local Government (DCLG) reports forecast 2011-12 non-school reserves for Worthing Borough Council (WBC) at 26 percent of expected expenditure. Eric Pickles in his time at the DCLG has called on councils with ratios of more than 5% to dip into those reserves. Yet WBC has refused to on more than one occasion to ease public transport costs or housing availability for Worthing’s residents. At tonight’s full council meeting another £300,000 was put into reserves – we suspect against a potential settlement in their dispute with NCP. NCP claims at least £600,000 and potentially a £1 million from WBC for breach of contact. WBC does not accept liability.
Lib Dem Group Leader Alan Rice said: “It is fairly obvious that the Tories are putting money in their piggy bank for a rainy day. The NCP claim may well be the storm ahead they are expecting. For many vulnerable people in our town it is raining already and money in reserves should be put to far better use.”

HOUSING – “I PREFER GOING PRIVATE”

Tuesday 16th July – At February’s budget setting Council Meeting Worthing Lib Dems moved an amendment to use some of WBC’s inflated reserves for interest against borrowing costs to build 50 new properties easing Worthing’s housing waiting list. The Tories rejected the proposal but have not come forward with any firm plan how they will meet Worthing’s housing needs. At tonight’s full council Alan Rice Worthing Lib Dem Group Leader reminded the Leader of the Council Paul Yallop the “Housing Needs Assessment for Coastal West Sussex” requires 425 to 445 properties to be built annually in Worthing. Alan further reminded the Leader of the rejection of the budget amendment which would ease the situation. Cllr Yallop said he preferred private enterprise..
Alan Rice said: “Cllr Yallop prefers going private. Maybe he hasn’t noticed but private developers are not delivering. When can we expect a spade in the ground at West Durrington? And why is private best for housing and leisure facilities but public is best for car parks, theatres and grounds maintenance?”

HOUSING – CAN WE USE CENTENARY HOUSE SITE?

Tuesday 16th July – Hove Police Station is to close and a new school is going on the site. In Adur Tory Cllr Rod Hotton suggested the Shoreham Police Station site could be used for council housing. Prompted by those examples Worthing Lib Dem Leader Alan Rice asked the Tory Cabinet Member for Regeneration Bryan Turner whether he would join him in exploring the possiblities of using the Centenary House site for housing. Cllrs Roberts and Wye had said at the previous week’s Joint Strategic Committee there was no land available for housing in Worthing as it was stuck between the downs and the sea. Alan suggested that here indeed was a piece of land that was potentially available. Both the current occupiers Sussex Police and West Sussex County Council are vacating the property in 2016-17. Cllr Turner indicated the site should be retained for office use for jobs and not houses.
Alan said: “Office space was reduced when Worthing College got permission to build on the old Aviva site as education was thought more important than sticking to the Core Strategy. Worthing Liberal Democrats believe housing is the most pressing need for Worthing now and we will follow up our idea with any interested party – with or without the Tories.”

BLISTERLY UNAWARE

Tuesday 16th July – Giant Hogweed sap causes skins to blister and children should be kept well away. Japanese Knotweed is an invasive species which Worthing Borough Council calls on residents to work together to eradicate. Both are present in Worthing, both on the council’s own lands and both are spreading. Concerned residents and others have informed the council over the past few years. Yet when the Cabinet Member responsible was asked tonight by Worthing Lib Dem Leader Alan Rice if we was aware he was blisterly unaware. To assist Alan is sending him some pictures.
MONTAGUE STREET – BACK TO THE CLC
Tuesday 16th July – The Tories called a special Council meeting just before the County election to authorise the release of funds (should they be available) to repave Montague Street. After the County election it has all gone quiet. Worthing Lib Dem Leader Alan Rice asked the new Cabinet Member for Resources Dan Humphreys what was happening? It’s back with the Worthing County Local Committee to make the decision which was always the case – so why the urgent special meeting?

SECOND RUNWAY AT GATWICK

Friday 19th July – West Sussex County Council approved a motion today from the Tory Cabinet member for Highways & Transport Pieter Montyn to support a second runway at Gatwick Airport. The motion was approved bv 42 votes to 10 with 12 abstentions. The airport will compete with rival proposals for a third runway at Heathrow and “Boris Island” at the mouth of the Thames.

DIARY

Wednesday 24th July – WSCC Pensions Panel – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am
Wednesday 24th July – Lib Dem Northbrook/Durrington Ward Surgery – The Durrington Community Centre 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm
Saturday 27th July – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – St Richards Church, Maybridge 10.00 am to 10.30 am
Saturday 27th July – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – The Strand Parade shops 10.00 am to 11.00 am
Saturday 27th July – Lib Dem Gaisford/Tarring Wards Surgery – West Worthing Baptist Church 10.30 am to noon

FURTHER AHEAD

Wednesday 31st July – WBC Licensing & Control “B” Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm
Saturday 3rd August – Lib Dem Broadwater Surgery – Muldoons Coffee Shop, Cricketers Parade, Broadwater 3.00 to 4.00 pm
and every first Saturday in the month
Saturday 3rd August – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road 10.30 am to noon
and every first Saturday in the month
Sunday 4th August – Lib Dem Worthing West Strawberry Tea at 45 Salvington Road at 4.00 pm
tickets £10 from Jackie Cranefield – 01903 266143 or 07973 961003 or jcranefield@live.co.uk
Wednesday 7th August – WBC Planning Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm
Thursday 8th August – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Christ Church Hall. Grafton Road 3.00 to 4.00 pm
and every second Thursday in the month
Saturday 10th August – Lib Dem Selden Ward Surgery – Jason’s Cafe, Ham Road at 10.00 am to 11.00 am
and every second Saturday in the month
Thursday 15th August – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road 10.30 to 11.30 am
and every third Thursday in the month

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