SHOW US THE MONEY – INCREDIBLE SHRINKING FUND

Thursday 12th September – Last week we reported a West Sussex County Councillor Officer pulled a rabbit out of the hat at the Worthing County Local Committee saying there were over £4.5 million of uncollected S.106 transport monies funds available for future refurbishment and repaving of Montague Street. At tonight’s Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee Lib Dem Group Leader asked the Cabinet Member for Regeneration Cllr Bryan Turner for a breakdown. Cllr Turner deferred to an officer who revealed he couldn’t find the money and could only account for around £900,000 of uncollected funds. It seems money had been double-counted, triple-counted and even quadruple counted. Asked how the promise of a refurbished Montague Street would be fulfilled the Cabinet Member said he was relying on a promise of support from West Sussex County Councli Leader Louise Goldsmith made in March.

Alan Rice said: “Yet again this week we had a statement in the Herald suggesting the funds had been secured but everywhere we look the cupboard seems to be bare. We need a clear statement from Worthing’s Cabinet and Leader exactly how this will be funded and a confirmation of the details from West Sussex. Once again the Tories are up the creek without a paddle.”

SEWAGE SPILL – JOSC DEMANDS UPDATE

Thursday 12th September – Tory Cllr Roger Oakley demonstrated a Damascene conversion when he requested tonight’s Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) to bring to the next meeting an update on the sewage spill last year by Southern Water. It was Cllr Oakley who stopped all discussion of the issue when the spill occured, saying it was subject to possible criminal proceedings, when Lib Dem Leader Alan Rice asked for JOSC to consider the matter at the time. A year later Cllr Oakley has changed his mind prompted by residents complaining of the difficulty of getting house insurance in the affected area. An update will be brought to the next JOSC meeting and a legal ruling sought on whether discussion is possible including calling Southern Water to give evidence.

ALLOTMENTS – CALL FOR ACTION

Thursday 12th September – Lib Dem Cllr Michael Donin made a “Councillor Call For Action” at tonight’s Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) to progress an allotments policy which has grinded to a halt. Michael chaired the working group on allotments which made its report and recommendations in 2010. The Chair of JOSC instructed officers to bring a draft policy document to the next meeting. Michael is determined to not let this drift and vows to press forward with his “Call for Action” until he succeeds,

COMMITTEE SYSTEM REVIVAL?

Thursday 12th September – The Chair of JOSC informed the meeting she had received a request from an Adur councillor to review bringing back the Committee system of governance to Adur District Council. Lib Dem Cllr Keith Sunderland asked for the review to be wider to include all forms of democratic governance. The Chair thought, especially in view of the current JOSC work programme, this should be considered by the Joint Strategic Committee – the two Cabinets of Worthing and Adur Councils. The committee agreed a recommendation to that effect would go forward.

HOW MUCH DOES A DONGLE COST?

Thursday 12th September – Worthing Leader of the Council Paul Yallop stated at the last Worthing Full Council that the device to give encrypted access remotely to Councillors (known as a dongle) costs £70 which was repeated in the media. Lib Dem Leader Alan Rice checked on the Internet and found they could be obtained for as low as £2.22 according to a professional IT magazine. Once again this raised concerns over the procurement processs of Worthing Borough Council. Alarmed, Alan asked at tonight’s JOSC for a review of procurement but was informed an internal review is already taking place. The committee instructed officers to bring an interim report to the next meeting.

COUNCIL TO BUILD MORE HOMES?

Thursday 12th September – An Adur JOSC member asked tonigght whether Adur District Council could build more much needed council homes. The Adur Cabinet Member for Regeneration was able to report that in fact the Adur Cabinet had agreed to progress the building of more council homes on land opposite the Adur Civic Centre. This was music to Worthing Liberal Democrats’ ears as they are pressing Worthing Borough Council to facilitate more social housing in Worthing.

DIARY