VOTE: Cash row for Worthing councillors
CLAIMS they had rejected the chance to reduce parking charges have been angrily refuted by Worthing Conservatives.
The borough council's Lib Dems proposed that one-third of an unexpected 660,000 bonus from central government, confirmed only last Friday (January 30), should be used to ease car parking charges to support local residents and businesses during the fragile economic recovery.
Alan Rice, Lib Dem shadow cabinet member for resources, said the money was an additional grant from central government towards the cost of the concessionary bus fare scheme, and had only in the last few months been scheduled to plug a hole in the 2010/2011 budget - instead of the originally-proposed use of reserves.
Boosting reserves
Mr Rice said, in addition, the council had received a large VAT rebate and, together with the extra concessionary fare grant, reserves had been boosted by well in excess of 2million.
But during the meeting of the council's overview and scrutiny committee on Monday, February 1, the Tories rejected the proposal on the basis of protecting front-line services in the future.
Mr Rice said afterwards: "The Tories want to save for a rainy day, but for too many it is raining all ready.
"High car parking charges are putting off residents and visitors alike from shopping in the town."
No windfall
Committee chairman Tom Wye said: "All of the funds received from central government are funds that Worthing should never have had to pay in the first place (they are not a windfall or a bonus).
"To cover the cost of the concessionary bus passes, the reserves the town holds had to be used."
Council leader Paul Yallop said on Tuesday: "On October 5, 2009, in response to public concerns, the cabinet recommended the release of up to 152,000 from reserves to remove the 2.90 minimum charge at the multi-storey car parks managed by NCP Limited.
Benefit all
"The 10-year contract negotiated by the Liberal Democrats in 2004, which transferred control of tariffs to NCP, has been a financial disaster for visitors and tax payers of Worthing."
"For 2010, the cabinet has chosen to release further money from reserves in order that public services are maintained and the council tax increase is pegged at 2.5 per cent.
"That benefits all Worthing taxpayers and not just those who park in the town centre car parks."
Have your say
Do you think Worthing Council should use some of the 660,000 "bonus" to help reduce car parking charges in the town?
Vote yes or no in the panel to the bottom right of the screen.
What do you think?
How important is it for Worthing council to "save for a rainy day"?
Would spending this money on car parking benefit everyone in Worthing?
How would you like to see the money spent?
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Weather for Worthing
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 9 C
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