Worthing was rated category 3 for need while most areas sharing £230m were category 1, councillors heard. Event organisers also warned of rising charges.

Overview

Worthing Borough Council received none of the £230 million shared out to other parts of West Sussex because the money went to the areas in greatest need, councillors have been told. Most of those areas were rated category 1 for deprivation. Adur and Worthing were rated category 3.

The explanation came at the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 4 November. The committee was reviewing how the council, businesses and volunteers work together in Worthing town centre. Its draft minutes are now on the council’s website.

Officers told the meeting that Worthing had “missed out on funding initiatives like Levelling Up and Pride in Place that had seen tens of millions going to many near neighbours”. The council has started talks with the Worthing Business Improvement District (BID) about making joint applications for outside funding.

Who gave evidence

The council’s report invited these partners to answer four questions on what works and what needs to change:

  • Paul Brewer, chief executive of Adur & Worthing Councils, and the councils’ neighbourhood team manager
  • West Sussex County Council’s area highways manager
  • Hemiko, the company that built and will run the Worthing Heat Network
  • the Worthing Town Centre BID
  • the Worthing Town Centre Business Owners Network, a group of more than 130 small traders
  • Worthing Lions Club
  • Worthing Rotary Club, which organises Worthing Carnival

The Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce could not attend and sent a written statement.

The review was requested in July by the committee’s chair, Cllr Carl Walker. His request cited concerns from town centre businesses and residents about the heat network works and “the general condition of the town centre as an attractive destination”.

Event organisers warn of rising costs

Councillors asked about the cost of putting on large events. The minutes record that organisations had faced charges over the last three years that they had not faced before. Those costs had “increased significantly”.

The organisations felt “they may not be able to continue to produce these events if such costs remained in place”.

A local business person raised the same worry in public question time. They asked how the council could expect charities and community groups to keep organising events when “the goalposts are moved from one year to the next”. They called for a published framework with consistent rules, clear charges and one point of contact.

Officers said they regretted that organisers felt that way and wanted to hear more. They said the requirements come mainly from safety law, not council choice:

  • Events with more than 500 people and licensable activities, such as alcohol or music, need a premises licence before final sign-off.
  • Requirements follow national event safety standards set out in The Purple Guide.
  • Larger events are also assessed by the emergency services through a Safety Advisory Group, which can add its own conditions.

Officers said the council’s framework for event organisers, including fees and timescales, is reviewed every year. They offered to meet the questioner.

The arcade between Nando’s and Barclays

A resident complained about “filth, bird mess and semi derelict buildings” in the pedestrian arcade between Nando’s and Barclays.

Officers agreed the privately owned area had not been kept to the expected standard “for far too long”. The minutes record what has happened since:

  • the council served enforcement notices on the owners
  • the owners now pay the council’s street cleansing team to clean the area every week
  • the owners have paid for litter bins, which the council empties
  • the enforcement notice requires the owners to deal with roosting birds, and the council is waiting for their proposals

The council is also putting up signs asking people not to feed birds near the Montague Centre.

Roadworks in the town centre

Councillors asked about utility works and sites where no one seems to be working. The minutes record that West Sussex County Council can schedule utility works but cannot refuse them.

The meeting heard that sites are inspected and companies are fined if they do not finish on time. Some sites that look idle are waiting for materials to cure or for deliveries.

What it means for you

There is no new money for Worthing from this meeting. The committee agreed that the themes raised would be written up into a report for the Joint Strategic Committee, which takes decisions for both councils, once the chairs agree it.

Officers said two round-table meetings with town centre partners were planned for 12 and 18 November. Engagement on the Worthing Masterplan, which asks residents what they value about the town, is continuing.

If you organise a community event in the town centre, the council said it welcomes feedback on its events web pages and process. The minutes also record that the committee discussed a more standard event plan template.

The meeting’s agenda, report and minutes are published on the council’s democracy site.