Row as secret museum plan is rejected

The confidential proposals to create a modern attraction detailing the town's history was dealt the potentially-fatal blow after a tense debate.

Tempers rose when town mayor Cllr Jennifer Gillibrand used her casting vote to reject the town council's budget intended to kickstart the project. The original vote was tied 7-7 between Lib Dem and Independent supporters of the spending plans from next April and Conservative and Independent opponents.

The museum to replace the current premises in the High Street run by volunteers has been a centrepiece of the Lib Dem councillors' plans since their election manifesto last spring. Cllr Mrs Gillibrand switched from the party to the Tories six months ago soon after she became mayor. Her husband, Rob, made the same move.

Her decisive vote prompted an outburst by Lib Dem Cllr Paul Wells. "What does distress me quite clearly is how Mrs Gillibrand and her husband, having been voted onto the town council with a mandate by the electorate, have now voted against a project which is of clear benefit to Bognor," he said.

Cllr Mrs Gillibrand replied: "I have not voted against the project. I think for the time being we should proceed with caution."

Cllr Gillibrand stated: "I am not against the project. It would be marvellous for the town but it's really a matter of taking it forward slowly. It's very easy to spend money."

The museum proposals were the main talking point of the 2009/10 spending plans at the town council's meeting on Monday.

The revised budget which was accepted by most councillors after the original spending plans were rejected set the town council's spending at 715,100 for next year. This is a 4.36 per cent rise on the current 685,220.

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