Tory Leader of the Council Paul Yallop apologised last week for the “muddle” over the Beach Chalets debate at the previous week’s Full Council. Cllr Yallop lays the blame on the “muddle” on everybody except naturally himself. We understand he would have supported a debate in Council but we missed that support when Lib Dem Leader Alan Rice urged the same at the time – the silence was deafening. The issue was deferred to the Joint Strategic Committee (Adur & Worthing Cabinest together) which unlike the Council is not sound recorded. There, we understand the Tory Worthing Cabinet members showed their usual lack of skills in community engagement.

Worthing’s legal officers added to the muddle as they seemed torn between allowing the debate as this was a policy matter on the creation of a cultural quarter, and not allowing a debate because it would predjudice a planning application. Whether they resolved the muddle was certainly unclear enough at the Council for the debate not to go ahead.

When a debate is permitted is becoming increasingly muddled but what is clear is Worthing Borough Council is allowing less opportunity than we suspect Government would like, and indeed intended in their localism legislation. And they don’t make petitions for a debate easy as can be seen from this criticism: http://www.petitionyourcouncil.com/council/worthing-borough-council/.

So if Cllr Yallop is not Mr Muddle who is? The Cabinet Member for Environment has shown an almost lemming like tendency in recent weeks to take on the title. At the same Council as the beach chalet debate fiasco. the Environment Cabinet Membe muddled the legislation on Japanese Knotweed. Cllr Clve Roberts claimed transportation of the plant was illegal and worked himself up into a lather. Actually it is only illegal to plant or disperse the seeds.

When interviewed at the Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Thursday why no allotments policy had been drawn up, although recommended by the Committee three years ago, he referred to strategy. On being pulled up he said “policy? strategy? what’s the difference?” He seemed very muddled.

The Tories are making it up as they go along and try to justify their reasons afterwards. Worthing residents are fed up with their cavelier attitude to transparency, accountability and community engagement.

Worthing Liberal Democrats are even more determined to hold them to account for their failings and muddles.

But we can see ourselves continuing to shake our heads in Council and hearing Arthur Lowe exclaiming “Oh – Mr Muddle!”

Monday 4th November – Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury commented on the publication of a CBI report today [Monday] on the economic benefits of EU membership. The report highlights research showing that membership of the EU is worth approximately 4-5% of UK Gross Domestic Product every year, or £62-78bn, roughly the size of the economies of the north east and Northern Ireland combined.Danny Alexander said: “This compelling report makes a powerful business case for the UK’s continued membership of the EU. EU membership is one of the reasons why Britain is an attractive place to invest – as businesses in India told me last week. Liberal Democrats know that we are all better off with Britain in Europe.”
Commenting further, Catherine Bearder, Lib Dem Euro MP for South East England, said: “Businesses, both large and small, are making it clear that EU membership is integral to Britain’s success as a dynamic, open economy. We should be seizing the opportunities to create jobs and growth by playing a leading role in the EU, not putting our economic recovery at risk by pulling out. British businesses know that it is so important the UK lead not leave the EU.That figure equates to our membership being worth £3000 to every household in this country. That sort of money makes a huge difference to people’s lives.”Antony Hook, Liberal Democrat candidate for the European elections next year said: “This detailed CBI report is further evidence that the UK in Europe means British people in work. Liberal Democrats will push for positive reforms like those the CBI want like extending the Single Market to the service sector. That will provide huge opportunities for British businesses and create even more jobs. The EU is the world’s largest economy and being in the EU is likely to get us the best trading access to the US, Asia and emerging economies. The case for being IN is strong and Lib Dems are the natural choice for voters who want to be IN.” (Catherine Bearder Press Release).