Accusations fly over Eastbourne council decisions

Conservative councillors say their Liberal Democrat counterparts – who control the finances at the Town Hall and run the administration – are keeping them in the dark over decisions being made.

But council leader David Tutt said the Conservative councillors attend virtual fortnightly meetings in which the authority looks to deal with issues in light of Covid-19 and they have been consulted on all major decisions.

The accusations come from newly elected Tory leader Robert Smart, who represents Meads and says he is concerned that council meetings have only been held online since the pandemic began in March.

He said, “In the absence of council meetings for several months, Conservative councillors have not been consulted on, nor approved of, decisions taken through delegated powers.

“These could continue until May next year. Research shows that Eastbourne Borough Council has endured the longest time without a full council meeting of all 26 local authorities in Kent and Sussex.

“Our town is a shambles and we as the opposition on Eastbourne council are kept in the dark with decisions taken behind closed doors, and when we try

to put forward ideas they are ignored by the ruling Lib Dems.”

Mr Smart highlighted the recent decision by the council to relocate the Tourist Information Centre from Cornfield Road to the Welcome Building by the Congress Theatre and temporarily closing the council’s Grove Road office.

Mr Smart said, “The joint reception with the police is now only manned by the police. How can the vulnerable and those without IT skills contact the council in person?

“This follows closures such as the town centre TIC, the Bandstand, Congress etc. The termination of the entire theatres management and staff has not been put before any council or cabinet meeting in which Conservative councillors have been consulted.

“We are demanding that normal democratic accountability is restored.”

Eastbourne Lib Dem group and council leader David Tutt said he was bemused by Mr Smart’s accusations.

He said, “Councillor Smart and his colleagues attend the online fortnightly meetings and are kept fully informed and Councillor Smart joins in with the cabinet meetings too.

“To say the decisions are being made behind closed doors is not true. There are no closed doors.

“The way Eastbourne council operates is exactly the same way the Conservative controlled East Sussex County Council operates.

“We are all on a learning curve here in these strange times.”

“As for closing the theatres, we had to. The government told us to.

“And if Councillor Smart has some ideas, I’d love to hear them. He only has to pick up the phone to me.”