Agenda item

To receive any questions from members of the public addressed to Members of the Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.  There is up to 5 minutes for each question, one supplementary question may be asked arising from the original question.

Questions must relate to any matter the Council has power or which affects the Borough, except no questions may be asked in relation to

a)     A specific planning or licensing application

b)     A specific staffing appointment or appeal, or Standards determination

Public question time will last up to 30 minutes; questions will be taken in the order of receipt.

The deadline for submission of questions is Friday 10 December 2021 at 12 noon. Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk   

A question had been pre-submitted by a Mr Adrian Cothard and was read out by the Mayor as the Mr Cothard was not present at the meeting

1.         Submitted Question from Mr Adrian Cothard, a Worthing Resident

Following the Government's catastrophic refusal of Worthing's £10.5M Levelling Up Fund bid, will the council disclose the following -

1. What was the financial cost and resourcing cost of making the Levelling Up Fund bid

2. What reasons did the Government give for the bid's rejection

3. What officers and councillors were involved and what other people/organisations were consulted

4. Who or what would have been the specific beneficiaries had the bid been successful

5. To what extent will these unfulfilled gaps now require council funding

6. What lessons have been learnt from this failed bid and will any subsequent bids be broadly similar

7. Why have our MPs and council remained silent over the Government's rejection of Worthing's bid

8. Has the questionable use of the £163,168 Welcome Back fund award played a factor in Worthing losing out on this substantial grant

9. Can you tell the chamber why you believe Worthing needs "levelling up" and what areas are of particular concern and requiring attention

As the resident was not present at the meeting the Leader undertook to provide a written response to the resident

The Mayor made the following announcement: Due to the questions from Annie Waran and Susan Belton being substantively the same, I shall ask you to read your questions and then ask the Leader to reply to both. I shall then invite you both to ask a supplementary question arising from your question or the answer provided.  

2.         Submitted Question from Annie Waran, a Worthing Resident

I represent the Friends of Denton Gardens and its many members. Our question is focussed on the future of Denton Gardens and the seaside shelter to its south.

As we approach the centenary of Alderman Denton’s gift to the people of Worthing, it is time to listen to the 1200 petitioners, the recently constituted Friends of Denton Gardens group, the Worthing Society, Central Ward Councillors and our local MPs, all of whom urge that the unique walled Denton Gardens and the shelter be protected, and their historic character maintained.

In the light of the changes to the composition of the Council, will you now assure us that the unwelcome attempt to further extend the commercialisation of the Gardens and Shelter be dropped?

3.         Submitted Question from Susan Belton, a Worthing Resident

            Denton Gardens is recorded on Worthing’s Register of Parks and Gardens of

Local Historic Interest and the Art Deco style Denton Shelter, integral to

the original concept of the gardens, is on the Local Interest List of

Worthing’s historic buildings which is a relevant planning consideration.

Together they form a unique seaside garden, donated to the town by

Alderman James Gurney Denton in 1922 and  much valued  today as a quiet

open space and respite from the busy promenade. Our heritage assets are

irreplaceable  and the Society has submitted an application for Denton

Gardens to be included within the Steyne Gardens Conservation Area.

Do the Worthing Borough Council members agree that given the unique

character and heritage status of the area, it should be protected from

potentially inappropriate projects within the Seafront Investment Plan and

that therefore the current offer of a lease to allow increased

commercialisation of the gardens with  significant alterations to the Art

Deco shelter should be immediately withdrawn.

The Leader stated that the Council was fully committed to retaining and celebrating the town’s heritage, whilst there was also the awareness of the need for the town to continue to move forward and evolve, to ensure Worthing economically competed with not only nearby neighbours but other places across the South East. The Seafront Investment Plan (2017) identified the southern section of Denton Gardens as a potential area that could be improved. This opportunity had been progressed and there was a real desire and interest to deliver an improved leisure provision, aimed at families with children. The part of the Denton Gardens being looked at was already used for mini-golf activity and work was being undertaken with the Friends of Denton Gardens to restore and enhance the Gardens to the north. In the new year the authorities would release a vision document setting out a series of possible interventions for East Beach, Beach House Park and Homefield Park, of which Denton Gardens would be included. The Council would be seeking and encouraging feedback from all sections of the community about the proposals and this feedback would inform any future decisions.