Town Council plan dismissed as too costly

THE idea of a new Town Council for Bexhill has been dismissed as too expensive and not worthwhile.

Councillors at the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard a new Town Council may have cost upwards of 500,000 a year to run and have very limited powers.

The majority Conservative group rejected the idea out of hand at the meeting on Monday, saying the costs greatly outweighed any potential benefits. Cllr Stuart Earl said: "It would be another talking shop but would not deliver services any better than they are today.

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"I don't think the people of Bexhill are denied any part of democracy at all. They can lobby and have the Town Forum and we do listen to what people have to say - and if they are dissatisfied they would tell us at the ballot box."

Cllr Eveline Armstrong said people like the idea of a Town Council but would not want to pay for it.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Sue Prochak disagreed, saying that Bexhill was the only town of its size in the country not to have its own elected body.

She said: "To call it a talking shop is an insult to all the parish councils. They are not talking shops - they are doers. I think there is a wish for stronger democracy in this town."

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Rother secretary Trevor Elliott outlined some of the potential costs of the Town Council. He said it would require a clerk and at least one administrator to run effectively and would need office space to house them. It would also need its own space for meetings and its own elections.

Mr Elliott said that although a Town Council had no mandatory powers, it may run public toilets and litter collections on behalf of Rother.

The benefits were that the Town Council could be consulted on planning matters, and could make representations to Rother and other authorities on behalf of the people of Bexhill.

A Town Council existed in Bexhill until Rother District Council was set up in 1974.

The proposal will not go forward to any further committees. However, if a petition of over 3,300 signatures was gathered by the people of Bexhill it would have to be considered by Government.