Decision to close Clair Hall called-in by Lib Dems

Earlier this month Mid Sussex District Council’s Conservative Cabinet agreed to shutter the venue.

Lib Dems have triggered a call-in of the decision, which now means backbench councillors will consider whether rules set out in the council’s constitution were followed in the lead up to the vote.

Their main reasons for the call-in include: no public consultation, no scrutiny of the decision by councillors, no ‘serious consideration’ of alternative options to permanent closure, missing background papers and a ‘rushed decision’ with no paper trail demonstrating all the constitutional criteria for a quick decision outside the corporate plan and budget were followed.

Alison Bennett, Liberal Democrat group leader, said: “Calling-in a decision is not something to be done lightly, but the long list of council failures on the Clair Hall decision cannot be ignored. When we gained twelve council seats last year we promised to hold MSDC to account. I feel a real responsibility to fight for this vital Haywards Heath asset.”

Richard Bates, a Haywards Heath Lib Dem councillor, added: “There has been a huge reaction here from people who use and value Clair Hall and don’t want it to be lost. I am pleased that I can use my position as a councillor to give ordinary people a voice, and make sure that the Tories can’t play fast and loose with the rules.”

The Lib Dems’ Mid Sussex Parliamentary Spokesperson Robert Eggleston said: “The Liberal Democrats have a positive plan for Clair Hall. We would reopen it as soon as it is Covid safe to do so; encourage users to form a community group to take over the running of the Hall, and lease the hall to this community group until a replacement fit for the future can be delivered.”

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