As Liberal Democrats we realised at an early stage the dire financial consequences of the joint-working of Worthing and Adur council staff, and would like to reassure you that for the past two years we have endeavoured to bring the issue to council tax payers' attention.

We realise in retrospect that the subject was not "sexy" enough to warrant the attention that we thought it deserved at the time, but thanks to the persistence of former Adur Council leader, Martin King, in getting a letter published we hope that some long-awaited light can now be thrown on the subject.

As shadow cabinet member for resources, there is one aspect of this exercise that I feel must not be overlooked, which is the council senior officer time and effort which has been devoted in pushing this project and the consequent loss of time spent on matters closer to Worthing and Adur residents' wishes.

As an example, in Worthing we are still awaiting progress on the new swimming pool where property earmarked for sale prior to 2004 by the previous Liberal Democrat administration has still not been brought to fruition – in the meantime the commercial property market has collapsed.

It is this "opportunity cost" which may well run into millions that is often forgotten when the minutiae of the council finances, budget and service cuts are being scrutinised, but it is the "real cost" to our council-tax payers, residents and voters.

We will continue to press for real benefits to Worthing and Adur residents rather than for some "ground-breaking" scheme which only brings kudos to its initiators.

Alan Rice
Worthing borough councillor for Gaisford Ward

NOTE: All letters must include a name and address which can be withheld by request.

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