Wealden Link

21 December 2008 - Funding row breaks out:

An attempt is being made by East Sussex County Council to claw back more money than it contributed towards the Lewes-Uckfield rail study. ESCC was the very last of the local authorities to approve its contribution of £25,000 which only amounted to that of both Wealden and Lewes District councils, even though the County Council’s overall financial turnover is considerably higher. At the time, ESCC insisted this was because its Transport & Environment (T&E) Department was contributing officer time.

Now, with the whole study amounting to £128,000 an under-spend of £32,000 has been revealed. This has prompted ESCC’s T&E Dept to attempt charging £28,000 for ‘officer time’ in managing the Lewes-Uckfield Rail Study. Adding insult to injury, the Director of its T&E Department, Rupert Clubb, suggests the small residue of £4,000 could then be distributed proportionately between the other contributors. Not surprisingly, the town councils of Lewes, Uckfield and Crowborough which between them contributed £50,000 are furious, not least because they were denied being full members of the Rail Board and having any real say or vote in the Study’s processes.

Campaign Director Brian Hart said it appears ESCC is not only intent on retrieving its entire contribution, but aims to make a profit too. He added: “Like many other people, I consider this to be highly contemptible, but quite honestly I am not surprised in the slightest by their action. It’s entirely what I’ve come to expect from the County Council and in particular its officers. Indeed, this whole Rail Study would have benefited without any involvement whatsoever from East Sussex County Council”.