Parties clash again on Arun’s move to committee system

After more than four decades under Conservative control the Lib Dems took over the administration last May with the backing of independents and smaller parties.

Since then one of the main changes will see the council move from a cabinet system, with an executive made up of a handful of councillors, to arrangements where decision-making power is exercised by a number of different committees.

The switch at Arun is due to take place next May.

Although the Conservatives have stated they are not opposed in principle, they have repeatedly raised concerns about the process and Wednesday’s meeting was no different.

The latest set of proposed changes had been discussed at a constitution working party at the end of June.

But Ricky Bower (Con, East Preston) felt the proposed size of the new committees needed to go back to the working party for more discussion before being signed off.

He said: “I think the sizes is something that can be delayed and then decided on within a month of full council next year.”

Nine councillors would sit on the corporate policy and performance committee with 11 on the remaining committees.

A decision on the size of the development control committee has been delayed to wait for the outcome of an independent planning review.

Chief executive Nigel Lynn said: “Every single thing you delay will make a higher risk that you will not meet the deadline of next May.”

The Lib Dems accused the Conservatives of trying to delay the changes.

James Walsh (LDem, Beach), leader of the council, said: “This runs the very real risk of delaying this whole thing and that’s what the Conservatives want to do. They do not want to see the introduction of the committee system next May and will stop at nothing to delay it.”

But the Conservatives countered this, accusing the Lib Dems of ‘rushing’ the changes through and said they wanted more information to scrutinise decisions properly.

Andy Cooper (Con, Angmering and Findon) said: “This smacks of absolute desperation to push something through without getting the information right.

“This is an administration in absolute turmoil to push something through which is unsound.”

The Conservative amendment to refer the committee sizes back to the working party was defeated and the recommendations were then agreed.

Inna Erskine (LDem, Pevensey), chair of the audit and governance committee, said: “There is a difference between working to a timetable and rushing a decision. All due process has been followed.”

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