Buffet anger sparks Pavilion hire charge row

The reinstated Mayor s charity ball was a glittering event at the Jarvis Cooden Beach Hotel. It raised 2,000 for Mais House, the Royal British Legion Care Home.

But Cllr Mrs Joanne Gadd (Con, St Mark s) said she could have sold many more tickets and raised much more money had she been able to hire the De La Warr Pavilion, a much bigger venue.

Backed by a large number of councillors at the Regeneration and Tourism Committee, Cllr Gadd continued: I had estimates from the De La Warr Pavilion for the Mayor s Ball and the charge was 50 a head for the cold buffet and 20 a head theatre hire charge.

I would have had to sell tickets for 70 a head. I just don t understand where the 50 charge comes from for a cold buffet.

I could have made a lot more money that night and so could the Pavilion. Cllr Dierdre Williams (Con) asked for the review of hiring fees and charges for the Pavilion be deferred to the new Cabinet for reconsideration.

Officers had advised an inflation rise of 2.75 per cent should be built into the fees for 2002/3.

Cllr Williams said: If you re going to increase the charges then the services must be improved too.

The bar is closing earlier and is not available when there are no functions. There are people wandering around with no-one to help them.

The council will review the matter.