Horsham District Council considers increasing support for Shelley Monument

In September 2023, the council entered into Memorandum of Understanding with The Shelley Memorial Project to support plans for a memorial to the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who was born in Warnham.

During a scrutiny committee meeting on Monday (September 1), members asked questions about the planned increase in funding, with one suggesting that the whole thing was ‘a potential waste of taxpayers’ money’.

If approved by the full council, the money would be used for the installation of the memorial in Horsham Park.

But it will only be available if The Shelley Memorial Project raises £100,000 by November 9 2028. The group’s website says that £23,000 has been raised so far.

Committee chairman Paul Clarke (Con, Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley) was unhappy with the assumption that the council would pay for the installation, especially as that was not included in the Memorandum of Understanding.

The council’s head of leisure acknowledge that there was no record of such an agreement, but said: “In further conversation with cabinet members and the leader, it’s been stated that this is a project that they want to go ahead, hence the bringing of the report asking for money to make it go ahead.”

Tony Hogben (Con, Colgate & Rusper) was unhappy with the proposed increase in funding and said he had concerns that it was ‘a potential waste of taxpayers’ money’.

Mr Hogben, who was cabinet member for finance when the council initially agreed to support the project, added: “I must admit, in the back of my mind, when we pledged £10,000 we actually thought that they might never achieve the £100,000.”

The council’s chief finance officer does not support the proposal, believing the money would be better spent on something that generates a financial and social return, such as housing.

A planning application for the project has already been submitted. A spokeswoman for the Shelley Memorial Project said she was confident that the £100,000 could be raised and that the memorial would be delivered.

Adding that the group was ‘surprised’ by the suggestion that the memorial could be a waste of taxpayers’ money, she said: “A focus on local heritage can achieve a significant contribution to the local economy, and that is surely why the council has an objective around investing in arts and leisure.

“As volunteers, we have contributed and will continue to contribute many hours of work, which the council is not required to pay for, in order to provide a public asset to the council.

“The ongoing cost of maintenance will be a very small percentage of the council’s overall budget for maintenance of its assets.”

The report will be considered by the cabinet later this month before going on to full council for a final decision.