Wider vote at Bexhill Town Forum

Chairman Paul Plim wants to open voting to everyone rather than just those who belong to the forum executive.

He will make this proposal during the meeting on Tuesday evening at 6.30pm at Bexhill High School in Gunters Lane.

Paul said: "The Bexhill Town Forum has existed for many years now and for all those years the regular tax payer of Bexhill has been able to attend Forum meetings and partake in the debates raise issues, but not participate in any of the formal votes that have taken place, leaving many of those that attended those meetings with a sense of bewilderment as to why they bothered to attend in the first place.

"This is hardly an advertisement for democracy."

His plan is that those who attend as individuals rather than representing a group should also have a vote.

He commented: "By opening up the membership of the forum to members of the public the forum executive can also be opened up to members of the public.

"With this change of the Forum rules Mr A and Mrs B who belong to no organisation currently represented within the forum but attend can become executive members and set the agenda, thereby truly reflecting the makeup of citizens within Bexhill.

"Bexhill is changing demographically, socially and ethnically.

"We as an organisation need to reflect that. We need to ensure that new people arriving into Bexhill feel at home.

"Within the Forum we do not need to put up the barrier of having to belong to an affiliated organisation before we can vote on issues.

"We need to set the agenda for change, not reflect the old tired ways of local government. I hope that more and more people will feel that they can come to the forum and tell the elected officials of this town what they want out of them, even present ideas and new thoughts on the direction that Bexhill should be heading.

"There are no restrictions on membership so anyone of any age, social status, religion, and ethnicity can join and use the forum as a place to be passionate about our Bexhill."

Other key matters which will be discussed at the Forum will include a presentation from Mary Glaisher from East Sussex County Council to update members on the Bexhill to Hastings link road, and Ian Coleman from Rother Voluntary Action will report on the latest developments concerning the Local Action Plans.