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Worthing Liberal Democrats Weekly Newsletter – 24th to 30th November 2013
by Press Officer on 1 December, 2013
Leader: Now it’s Mrs Muddle
News this past week:
1. Siemens To Stop Investment If Britain Leaves EU
2. Sharon Bowles MEP Backs Moves To Close Corporation Tax Loophole
3. EU Ban On Seal Products Upheld
4. Planning Committee Rejects Beach Chalet Conversion Or Does It?
5. Bland Welcomes New Flood Relief Insurance For Adur District
WORTHING LIBERAL DEMOCRATS NEWSLETTER
24TH TO 3OTH NOVEMBER 2013
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Lib Dems will keep County services local where ever possible
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Lib Dems will devolve more money to be spent locally and allow residents to decide how it’s spent
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Lib Dems will ensure vulnerable people are safeguarded and support 20 mph in Worthing’s residential roads
Leader: Now it’s Mrs Muddle
Residents and political observers at Wednesday’s Planning Committee chaired by Tory Mrs Joan Bradley were left confused and bewildered by what exactly happened. The meeting was yet another muddle. The application to convert beach chalets in east Worthing was rejected by the committee but after a quickly convened huddle another vote was taken which apparently deferred the decision. Or did it? We are not sure and we are not sure whether Mrs Bradley is sure – we are awaiting the official minutes which will hopefully bring some surety.
We understand, and again we are not sure, this stems from the adoption of new planning rules by the Adur & Worthing Joint Planning Committee at their meeting on Wednesday September 24th. The Executive Head of Corporate & Cultural Services and the Executive Head of Planning, Regeneration and Wellbeing presented a joint report entitled ‘Probity in Planning’. The report is part of the Review of the Constitutions of both Adur and Worthing Councils and introduces the ‘Probity in Planning Guidance’ into the Worthing Constitution. Mrs Bradley was absent for the meeting.
The meeting recommended to the Joint Governance & Audit Committee, which met two days later, that Worthing Borough Council added the ‘Probity in Planning for Councillors and Officers’ document to the Constitution. The Joint Governance & Audit Committee made a similar recommendation to Worthing Borough Council which approved the recommendation at Full Council on October 15th. Strangely, but co-incidentally, this was the same meeting where objectors to the conversion of the beach huts to artist studios failed to get a debate on their petition signed by 2,500 people.
Now we are getting to the point we are trying to make. As at today’s date, the addition has not been made to the Worthing Borough Council Constitution on their website – there is no mention of Planning in the posted version. The last update to the Constitution on the website is April 2010. We also understand from aggrieved residents changes have been made to the complaints’ procedure without a timely update of the website. How are residents to know what current rules and procedures are? Especially if little or no explanation is made at the meeting or in correspondence.
But just to re-iterate we are not convinced there is anything in the ‘Probity in Planning for Councillors and Officers’ document to warrant the action taken at the Planning Committee – we are awaiting advice and answers.
Councillors are told time and time again their dealings should not only be transparent but in addition give the public a perception of being transparent. We wholeheartedly agree and urge the Tory administration to do all in their power to increase transparency and dispel the muddle.
Next week we will know the Cabinet’s plan for parking – let’s hope at least in this area they are crystal clear.
Worthing Liberal Democrats
SIEMENS TO STOP INVESTMENT IF BRITAIN LEAVES EU
Monday 25th November – The managing director of Siemens UK, which employs 13,000 people across the country, including in the South East, has warned that his company would stop investing in factories in the UK if it was not part of the EU. He added that leaving the EU would be “disastrous” for British manufacturers. This follows a poll last month which found that eight out of ten manufacturers want to remain in the EU.Local Lib Dem Euro-MP, Catherine Bearder, commented: “The message from business is loud and clear, it’s in Europe in work.Thousands of jobs in the South East every year are created by foreign investors, for whom a crucial factor is the ability to export freely to the world’s largest single market. If we did what UKIP and many Tories want and pulled out of Europe all together, we would lose that position and put crucial jobs and investment at risk. Liberal Democrats are clear that next time there is a serious change to Europe’s rules affecting the UK, we will have an In Out referendum. But when that time comes you can be sure that we will be campaigning as the Party of In, for EU membership and for the British jobs that depend on it.” (Catherine Bearder Press Release)
SHARON BOWLES MEP BACKS MOVES TO CLOSE CORPORATION TAX LOOPHOLE
Tuesday 26th November – The Chair of the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, Sharon Bowles MEP, has today pledged to support EU plans to close a loophole which has allowed large corporations to avoid paying their fair share of tax. Amendments to the EU’s corporate tax legislation, proposed by Taxation Commissioner Algirdas Semeta, will introduce an anti-abuse clause which will prevent companies including Google, Amazon, Starbucks and Apple from stockpiling their profits in countries with lower tax rates. Ms Bowles led calls for the introduction of country-by-country reporting in the EU to clamp down on aggressive corporate tax avoidance. As part of the revision of the EU’s Accounting Directive, Ms Bowles is currently seeking to extend these disclosure requirements so that they apply to all large EU firms in each country in which they operate. Ms Bowles is also calling on EU countries to implement anti-tax abuse rules known as GAAR rules.Commenting, Ms Bowles said:”The introduction of an anti-abuse clause is crucial if we are to prevent aggressive tax avoidance and the shifting of profits to low-tax destinations abroad. Listening to both Angel Gurría, the Secretary-General of the OECD, and Commissioner Semeta today in the European Parliament has only served to strengthen my resolve to push for greater transparency in corporate tax matters in Europe. As I have argued for many years, the bottom line is that companies should pay their fair share of tax in the country where they conduct business. The Commission’s proposal would help to ensure that this principle is upheld.” (Sharon Bowles Press Release)
EU BAN ON SEAL PRODUCTS UPHELD
Tuesday 26th November – Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder has welcomed news that an EU ban on seal products has been upheld in a World Trade Organisation ruling. The ban was steered through the European Parliament by former Liberal Democrat MEP Diana Wallis four years ago.Commenting, Ms Bearder said:”Four years ago, MEPs voted to ban the trade in seal fur in order to put an end to this needless massacre. The WTO ruling upholds that democratic decision. We must now ensure that the EU continues to play a vital role in protecting threatened animals wherever they come from.” (Catherine Bearder Press Release)
PLANNING COMMITTEE REJECTS BEACH HUT CHALET CONVERSION OR DOES IT?
Wednesday 27th November – Objectors at tonight’s Worthing Planning Committee to the conversion of beach chalets to artist studios were left confused by a second vote apparently deferring the decision. The first vote by the committee rejected the application by a majority of four to three. Objectors said there was no explanation as to why two votes had taken place and what or whether there was any effect on the decision.
Worthing Liberal Democrat Group Leader Alan Rice said:”The Council, its commitees and its councillors must be seen at all times to be open and transparent. The rules and procedures must be crystal clear – so that everyone knows what is happening. Worthing Liberal Democrats will continue to press for that transparency. No more Mr Muddle.”
BLAND WELCOMES NEW FLOOD RELIEF INSURANCE FOR ADUR DISTRICT
Friday 29th November – Residents in the Adur District could benefit from government plans to encourage cost-effective insurance for flood-threatened houses. Jemima Bland, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Worthing East and Shoreham, has welcomed the new Water Bill which has received a second reading in the House of Commons. The Bill provides for a not-for-profit flood fund managed by the insurance industry. It could help home-owners such as those in Mash Barn, Lancing flooded out last Christmas. The Adur Local Plan says that flood risk is ‘a significant issue in Adur due to its coastal location and the river Adur bisecting the district’. The Plan points out that a large part of the open land between Lancing and Shoreham as well as parts of Shoreham town centre ‘are in areas with a high probability of flooding’. The fund will help up to 500,000 UK home owners in flood risk areas to get affordable insurance that might not be available on the open market.The new deal will cap flood insurance premiums, linking them to council tax bands so that people will know how much they have to pay. A householder in the a council tax band A or B property will pay no more than £210 per year, rising to £540 per year for Band G.
Ms Bland said: “This move is welcome news for existing householders. But it doesn’t alter the fact that it’s crazy for the Adur District Council to be planning 600 houses at New Monks Farm, much of which carries the highest probability of flooding.”
A recent statement by the National Flood Forum said: “Flood Reports will allow many more people to access affordable flood risk insurance as part of their household insurance than are able to do at present. In doing so, it will provide much better support to people who do flood. As well as the financial impact of flooding, it will help to mitigate the trauma and stress to those it affects.” (Jemima Bland Press Release)
Ms Bland said: “This move is welcome news for existing householders. But it doesn’t alter the fact that it’s crazy for the Adur District Council to be planning 600 houses at New Monks Farm, much of which carries the highest probability of flooding.”
A recent statement by the National Flood Forum said: “Flood Reports will allow many more people to access affordable flood risk insurance as part of their household insurance than are able to do at present. In doing so, it will provide much better support to people who do flood. As well as the financial impact of flooding, it will help to mitigate the trauma and stress to those it affects.” (Jemima Bland Press Release)
DIARY
Monday 2nd December – WSCC Regulation, Audit and Accounts Committee – County Hall, Chichester at 2.00 pm
Tuesday 3rd December – ADC & WBC Joint Strategic Committee – Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea at 6.30 pm
Wednesday 4th December – WSCC Performance & Finance Select Committee – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am
Wednesday 4th December WSCC Budget Road Show – Chatsworth Hotel, The Steyne from 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm
Wednesday 4th December – ADC & WBC Joint Planning Committee – Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea at 6.30 pm
Wednesday 4th December – WSCC Worthing County Local Committee – Georgian Room, Chatsworth Hotel, The Steyne at 7.00 pm
Saturday 7th December – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Sidney Walter Centre, Sussex Road 10.30 am to noon and every first Saturday in the month
Saturday 7th December – Lib Dem Broadwater Surgery – Muldoons Coffee Shop, Cricketers Parade, Broadwater 3.00 to 4.00 pm and every first Saturday in the month
Saturday 7th December – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – St Richards Church, Maybridge 10.00 am to 10.30 am
Saturday 7th December – Lib Dem Castle Ward Surgery – The Strand Parade shops 10.00 am to 11.00 am
Saturday 7th November – Lib Dem Gaisford/Tarring Wards Surgery – West Worthing Baptist Church 10.30 am to noon
FURTHER AHEAD
Friday 13th December – ADC & WBC Joint CenSus Committee – Horsham District Council at 10.00 am
Friday 13th December – WSCC Full Council (meeting will be webcast) – County Hall, Chichester at 10.30 am
Tuesday 17th December – WBC Full Council – Council Chamber, Town Hall at 6.00 pm
Wednesday 18th December – WBC Planning Committee – Gordon Room, Town Hall at 6.00 pm
Thursday 19th December – Lib Dem Central Ward Surgery – Christ Church Hall. Grafton Road 3.00 to 4.00 pm
and every second Thursday 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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