Leader: Show us the money

News this past week:

1. Twenty’s Plenty Must Be Funded

2. Broadwater Bridge Repairs Now Next Year

WORTHING LIBERAL DEMOCRATS NEWSLETTER 1ST TO 7TH SEPTEMBER 2013

Lib Dems will keep County services local where ever possible

Lib Dems will devolve more money to be spent locally and allow residents to decide how it’s spent

Lib Dems will ensure vulnerable people are safeguarded and support 20 mph in Worthing’s residential roads

Leader: Show us the money

The West Sussex County Council officer presenting the ‘Review of the Worthing County Local Committee Infrastructure Plan and Montague Street Town Centre Enhancement Scheme’ pulled a late rabbit out of the hat. To the delight of two Tory members of the committee he announced an additional £4.5 million of uncollected S.106 transport monies would become potentially available to fund the Montague Street repaving and the 20 mph zones in residential streets.

This £4.5 million rang a bell with Worthing Lib Dem Group Leader Alan Rice as he has devoted many hours studying S.106 availabilities in the past and the allocated and potential use. At least two years ago, if not more, there was already over £4 million uncollected funds – monies negotiated as a condition to granting planning approvals to developers. Some are where the development is not finished or simply has not started yet (and indeed may never happen). Others are where the development is complete but Worthing Borough Council (WBC) has failed to collect. More recently the only spreadsheet produced by WBC in the public domain is the collected funds – the source of the infamous £750,000 to repave Montague Street.

The key factor is whether these funds are eligible to be used – a point we disputed back in May over at least some of the identified £750,000. This point was also made forcibly at Wednesday’s meeting by both Duncan Kay of Twenty’s Plenty and John Coote of Sustrans. In fact Mr Coote was annoyed that sustainable transport funds could even be considered to repave Montague Street.

We are reliably informed that at least £4 million of the uncollected funds are earmarked for sustainable transport, public transport or cycling. It doesn’t leave much left for other projects which is why Worthing Liberal Democrats are still saying “show us the money”,

What also became apparent on Wednesday is the costing of Montague Street is not yet nailed down – the £1 million is for the first phase which in fact could be £1.6 million, then there is another £1 million for the second phase and is there a third, fourth or tenth phase? We have no idea.

One area where these uncollected millions could be used is enhancing Worthing’s bus services – it is high time WBC did something to bring back evening and Sunday bus services for our residents and tourists. From the described funds the money appears to be there – all WBC has to do is “show us the money”.

Worthing Liberal Democrats

NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEK

TWENTY’S PLENTY MUST BE FUNDED

Wednesday 4th September – Tory Cllr Steven Waight moved an amendment at tonight’s Worthing County Local Committee to ensure, should Worthing’s residents support 20 mph zones in residential streets, the money is available. The amendment received cross-party support – seconded by Lib Dem Cllr Bob Smytherman and unanimously approved by all nine CLC committee members (6 Tories, 2 Lib Dems and 1 UKIP). Supporters of 20 mph zones were worried available S.106 funds were to be used to repave Montague Street kicking 20 mph zones into the distant future. The meeting was packed to capacity for the debate following a peaceful protest beforehand by Twenty’s Plenty, Sustrans and Transition Town Worthing. The protestors were delighted with the result. The public consultation on 20’s Plenty will now go ahead and funds must be made available. The Montague Street scheme was added to the Infrastructure Plan. The officer presenting the report indicated there were £4.5 million uncollected S.106 Transport monies availbale in the future for the projects.

Worthing Lib Dem Group Leader Aan Rice said: “Residents have a right to expect funds generated from developments in their area are used to benefit their area and are put to appropiate use. We have long supported 20 mph zones in streets where residents want them and we are delighted any available funds are now secure.”

BROADWATER BRIDGE REPAIRS NOW NEXT YEAR

Friday 6th September – Essential repairs to Broadwater Bridge have been postponed to September 2014. The work should have started Monday (September 2nd) but a gas leak delayed matters and the available window closed. West Sussex Highways wish to avoid work during the Christmas period or during next year’s Summer holidays. The bridge has been leaking water and consequently damaging the concrete which is in danger of falling onto the railway line. Highways are confident the delay will not present any immediate danger.

DIARY

Monday 9th September – WSCC Governance Committee – County Hall, Chichester at 2.15 pm

Thursday 12th September – ADC & WBC Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Shoreham by Sea at 6.30 pm

Thursday 12th September – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Christ Church Hall. Grafton Road 3.00 to 4.00 pm

and every second Thursday in the month

Saturday 7th September – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – St Richards Church, Maybridge 10.00 am to 10.30 am

Saturday 7th September – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – The Strand Parade shops 10.00 am to 11.00 am

Saturday 7th September – Lib Dem Gaisford/Tarring Wards Surgery – West Worthing Baptist Church 10.30 am to noon

FURTHER AHEAD

Tuesday 17th September – WBC Licensing Control Committee A – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm

Thursday 19th September – WSCC Planning Committee – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am

Thursday 19th September – WSCC Health and Wellbeing Board – County Hall, Chichester at 2.15 pm

Thursday 19th September – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road 10.30 to 11.30 am

and every third Thursday in the month

Tuesday 24th September – WSCC Cabinet – County Hall, Chichester at 11.00 am

Tuesday 24th September – ADC & WBC Joint Planning Committee – Gordon Room , Town Hall at 6.30 pm

Wednesday 25th September – WSCC Environmental and Community Services Select Committee – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am

Thursday 26th September – ADC & WBC Joint CenSus Committee – Horsham District Council at 10.00 am

Thursday 26th September – WSCC Children and Young People’s Select Committee – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am

Thursday 26th September – ADC 7WBC Joint Governance & Audit Committee – Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Shoreham at 6.30 pm

Friday 27th September – WSCC Regulation, Audit and Accounts Committee – County Hall, Chichester at 2.15 pm

Saturday 5th October – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road 10.30 am to noon

and every first Saturday in the month

Saturday 5th October – Lib Dem Broadwater Surgery – Muldoons Coffee Shop, Cricketers Parade, Broadwater 3.00 to 4.00 pm

and every first Saturday in the month

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Published and promoted by Worthing Liberal Democrats, 18 Woodlea Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 1BN

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