Council appointment only goes to reveal 'incompetence' in the way our seaside town's assets are being treated

The eventual appointment of a cabinet member to be responsible for Property and Heritage Assets has been dubbed ‘incompetent’ by Conservatives on Eastbourne Borough Council.

Conservative Group leader, Cllr Robert Smart, said of the news that Helen Burton had been selected to fill the newly-created role: "After years of neglect, finally our limp LibDem council wake up to the importance of heritage assets in our seaside town which relies so much on visitors and tourism."

Above all, the Conservatives have joined with seafront campaigners to call into question the timing of the appointment by the LibDem authority. “It is now an incredible four months since Conservative Councillors drew attention to this neglect in Full Council and only three weeks before a LUF2 bid for up to £50m needs to be submitted. Incompetent”, highlights Cllr Smart.

UPDATE - Thursday 16th June

We state quite clearly that the opinions expressed above are those of the Conservative Group leader, Cllr Robert Smart.

Anyone now trying to link these remarks to any other specific group or organisation is clearly under a total misapprehension. We trust they are not making this link mischievously for any political obfuscation.

The Conservative Group were highlighting the timing of the appointment.

It has taken the council 15 years to decide that this level of Cabinet attention is necessary, during which time the town's heritage assets have been sorely neglected. 

The appointment, made this week, has taken four months since our motion to the Full Council about the matter; and comes just three weeks before a major LUF2 bid is to be submitted to tap into the Government's generous offer of funding.