Councillors clash over '˜talking shop' group

The Joint Western Arun Area Committee (JWAAC) meets quarterly in public – but town, parish, district and county councillors also attend a private sub-group to discuss highways and traffic matters.

But last Tuesday’s meeting (February 27) saw questions raised over why six parish councils had refused to contribute towards the sub-group’s running costs, around £190 each annually, while three had not responded.

Aldingbourne chairman Martin Beaton and Eastergate chairman Chris Allington were both accused of ‘griping’ by Aldwick’s Lilian Richardson after both had questioned whether the sub-group was a ‘talking shop.

The duo had called for the area committee to focus on more strategic issues, including the infrastructure issues associated with the threat of thousands of homes new homes in Barnham, Eastergate and Westergate.

Mr Allington said: “The money is not the issue, it is the principle. The principle is we’re about to build a village in this district that is bigger than any 50 miles away and that is going to have a lot of infrastructure issues that I don’t see discussed on any of the agendas.”

Addressing Mr Beaton’s remarks, Aldwick West district councillor Trevor Bence said: “For this gentleman to sit here with absolutely no experience of it and damn it to hell I find it absolutely insulting.”

Highways officer Ben Whiffin said parishes would still retain contact with officers if they did not join in with the sub-group – which has no decision-making powers. He noted meetings, which provide a forum to raise issues, often lasted two hours and discussing matters at JWAAC would extend meeting times.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Beaton said he had no issue with the sub-group but called for JWAAC to better address strategic issues residents wanted answer on.