Do they deserve your support?
I have served the electorate of Buxted, Hadlow Down and latterly, Maresfield as a Wealden District councillor since 1987, apart from a brief spell living in the USA, during which time I have been proud to serve the council in a number of capacities including that as chairman of the council and deputy leader.
For the most part, this has been both rewarding and constructive in working with the local community and contributing to the local democracy. Although not always in agreement with the opposition parties of which the Liberal Democrats were the largest and most vocal, we worked well together serving on numerous committees and establishing both respect and friendships and thus over the years forming excellent councils to the benefit of the residents of Wealden District.
On Wednesday, February 17, we held a full council meeting to establish the new budget and fix the council tax for the following year.
After weeks of hard graft and considerable discussion within the cabinet, Cllr Bob Standley, the portfolio holder for Finance and Assets presented his recommendation to the council which was a net increase in council tax of 2.7 percent – the lowest increase for many years at a time of extremely difficult economic circumstances.
The budget, as is customary, had been sent to the leaders of the other parties represented on the council to enable them to prepare their observations and submit their own recommendations.
This budget presentation is the most important event of the year for full council and normally generates considerable debate. Not this year!
Not a single member of the Liberal Democrats had a suggestion to make or a word to say – the presentation was met with a wall of silence and it was evident that the opposition had been instructed to say precisely nothing. Is this democracy at work and is it not a total disgrace that the members you elected to the council should behave in such an irresponsible manner.
Members such as this do not deserve either your support or your vote and, it is to be hoped that you will show your displeasure at such a lack of democracy when next you come to cast your vote.
Norman A D Buck, Wealden District Councillor for Buxted, Hadlow Down and Maresfield
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Weather for Lewes
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
