EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 96, 20 October 1933, Page 16

EASTBOURNE AFFAIRS

BOROUGH MANAGEMENT

COMMITTEE SET UP

Considerable discussion ensued, at last evening's meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council on the question of setting up a committee to report on borough management and activity. At the . previous meeting of the council a letter was received from tbe Eastbourne Ratepayers' Association asking for a report on borough management, preferably by outsiders, but the conncil "disapproved of the matter going outside the council, and requested the Town Clerk (Mr. C I/. Bishop) to bring down a full report on tho borough's activities to tho next meeting of the council so that it would servo, as a basis for tho committee's investigations. .-■..-

Councillor A. T. K. Duncan moved:— "That a committee be set up to investigate thoroughly the' pr.esent and future.' administration of borough activities with a view to.briuging down the necessary recommendations to the council." : ■

Councillor I\l. Magill seconded Councillor Duncan's motion.

Councillor A. H. Macandrew asked Councillor Duncan what he meant by "present and future administration of the borough." ........ Councillor Duncan, said tho Town Clerk had brought down a very comprehensive report. "The ratepayers appear to be dissatisfied by tho way they write,'-' he added. . "That's unnecessary,", interjected Councillor Magill. "There are quite a few things, to be discussal,'' said Councillor Duncan. Councillor Macandrew said he considered every committee of the council should report on its own department, and the reasons for this wero that time would bo saved and the members of each committee would get more familiar with the borough's work in that department. He moved an amendment to the «ffect that, each committee investigate the work of its own department with a view to bringing down a report and any recommendations to the council.

Councillor V. P. Haughton seconded the amendment.

Councillors Bowie and Shearer expressed views similar to Mr. Macandrew's.

Councillor G. Y. Berry gave an explanation of the Eatepayers' Association's attitude. The association had •wanted outsiders^ he said, because otherwise the council would be investigating what came under 'its own jurisdiction. However, the question of cost was a stumbling block, for an outside investigator would need fivo or seven guineas a day at least. Tho ratepayers wanted to know for once and for all if the right man was at the head of affairs, and if that was so, tho council should get behind.him and help in getting the borough on.

Mr. Wise (Mayor) said he first thought an outside man should be appointed, but the question of cost cameinto it. By Councillor Macandrew's scheme members of the committees would get to know about the management of their departments. Councillor C. H. Andrews expressed himself as being a bit doubtful about committees bringing down recommendations on their own departments. "Familiarity breeds contempt," ho said, and an outside member of the council would be able to see what a member of a committee might overlook.

CouncUlor Macaudrew's amendment was defeated, and the motion carried. The committee set up consisted of the Mayor, and Councillors Andrews and Berry. Councillor Duncan moved prior to this that a committee of five be appointed, and that it should call ratepayers who wanted to give evidence but the Mayor said no member of tho public, should be there except by invitation. It._was then decided to cut down -the-size of the committee from five, to three. - ■ -,