An effort by Conservatives at last night's annual meeting of Hailsham Town Council to elect Steve Keogh (Hailsham North-West) as town Mayor for the ensuing year was defeated.
Cllr Keogh told the meeting that he stood offering to bring urgently needed new ideas, financial and business disciplines to the Town Council. He added that this was essential in moving forward in a very positive way to tackle the considerable financial and staffing challenges that the authority faces in the coming year.
Councillor Keogh appealed to the ruling Liberal Democrat and Independent Alliance to put aside the furtherance of political agendas in the interests of the town and its council, and to utilise the talents of all members to help run the authority more effectively. He pointed out that despite having one third of the seats on the Town Council, the Conservatives were effectively excluded by the Alliance from senior chair and vice chair roles on key committees, holding just 1 out of 16.
The response was to furiously deny that they act as a political alliance, rebuffing his suggestion while voting unanimously, as a block, to return the Liberal Democrat Mayor Paul Holbrook, who was initially proposed and seconded by two of the Independent councillors.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Keogh said: “I’m disappointed, but not at all surprised by the outcome.
“The meeting was a bit of a shambles; anyone watching it could see that the ruling coalition are acting in a coordinated and determined way to exclude us. I fear that these councillors are in denial about the need to pull together for the benefit of our town in pursuit of greater financial discipline, better governance, and positive change.”
Hailsham's Town Council Band D precept has risen by 18% & the overall Town budget by 23% since 2019/20. Absent a more rigorous approach to running the council, it will no doubt rise again next year. The Lib Dem-Independent alliance seem set to test Margaret Thatcher’s adage that: “the problem with socialism is that, sooner or later, you run out of other people’s money.”
