Eastbourne Conservatives select new leader

Robert Smart, who represents Meads, will replace Tony Freebody, who is stepping down as leader to focus on his work within the NHS.

Mr Freebody originally handed over the leadership to Sovereign councillor Penny di Cara at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

And this week the Eastbourne group selected Mr Smart, a retired international businessman and accountant.

Outgoing leader Mr Freebody said, “As many people know my job within the NHS has taken precedence lately and that needs to continue, so my decision to step down as group leader needs to be a permanent one.

“It has been a huge privilege to lead our group over the past five years and I wish to thank the group who have been fantastic at supporting me. I wish to also thank Penny Di Cara for her support as my deputy and also for her work in leading the group in the past few months.

“I wish Robert Smart all the best as our new group leader. Robert has my full support and I’ll continue to support him in his new role.”

Mr Smart, who was re-elected as a Meads councillor in May 2019, said he intends to work with the Lib Dem administration but ‘also to provide robust opposition where appropriate’.

Mr Smart said he recognised areas where the council has performed well but has been a staunch critic in other areas, particularly in finance.

At recent Cabinet meetings he has referred to what he called ‘the totally unacceptable absence of three year’s figures’.

Mr Smart said, “The audited accounts for 2018/19 have yet to be finalised, figures for 2019/20 and the “Budget Book” for the current year, 2020/21, have not been released.

“We and the Eastbourne public are in the dark regarding finances and the precarious financial position of the council existed before the Covid crisis.

“The Conservative central government is providing unprecedented funding in many forms to individuals, businesses and local authorities and a response to the most recent application by Eastbourne is awaited.

“It is just deflection from the precarious financial position that preceded Covid by this Lib Dem administration to have blamed central government for its predicament.

“Apart from the unacceptable absence of three year’s figures, democratic accountability has become almost non-existent in recent months through the cancellation of public meetings.

“I will be pressing immediately for the resumption of a full set of public meetings, by video if necessary to meet social distancing requirements. Other local authorities have managed them.”

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