Mayor jeered at meeting

At the start of the meeting, Liberal Democrat James Doyle stood up and tried to explain he had not been invited to the Conservative-organised meeting, despite it being held to discuss issues in his East Worthing ward.

However, his claims were met with little sympathy by some in attendance, with one member of the public calling out: "Now you know how we feel when we don't get the right information."

The meeting, chaired by Tory MP for East Worthing Tim Loughton, had been organised by the Selden Conservative group, and those on the top table included East Worthing Tory councillor Jack Saheid.

At the start of the event, Lib Dem deputy leader John Lovell asked Mr Loughton why Mr Doyle, as an East Worthing councillor, was not able to sit at the top table.

Mr Loughton said the meeting had been organised by the Conservatives, although Mr Doyle was welcome to join the panel.

When Mr Doyle stood up to join the front table, he spoke out to say he had not received an invite but was shouted down by a handful of participants.

Speaking to the Herald after the meeting, Mr Doyle said he was "disappointed" to have not received an invite.

He said: "I think that having been a ward councillor for a couple of years and been on the council since 1995, I would have had something to contribute to the meeting.

"If you are working in the community it should be non-political and we should be working together."

At the meeting were about six Lib Dem councillors, and two Tory councillors, although both groups sat on opposite sides of the room to each other.

Mr Doyle added: "I only found out about it less than a week before, and, being mayor, I was incredibly lucky I was able to go, as we often have engagements on a Saturday."

Tim Loughton said after the meeting: "This was not a political meeting and there were no specific political people invited.

"Personal invites weren't sent out to any of the councillors. I did tell the chief executive of the council, though, who told members of the council."