Council’s advisory groups are ‘open and transparent’

Adrian Lee, who represents Denne on Horsham District Council, was responding to an article in last week’s County Times, where it emerged that some councillors were unaware of the existence of several advisory groups.

The council has now committed to publishing a list of advisory groups and notes taken from meetings on its website and Mr Lee felt this would allow members of the public and councillors to ‘see for themselves that there is nothing secret about anything being discussed’.

He added: “It is easy not to engage and so claim that there is a secret conspiracy going on. But as a new councillor I believe that it is important to participate, to learn and to develop. If those feeling left-out focus on this, they may find they know more than they do at present.”

Last week fellow Conservative Connor Relleen expressed concern at the lack of transparency of decision-making at HDC, but Mr Lee said he did not agree with these views, nor did he recognise the picture painted of the council.

He continued: “The role of an advisory group is to advise the relevant cabinet member. Nothing more. Participation in these advisory groups makes the decision-making process very transparent.”

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