STATEMENT BY COUNCILLOR JAN COSGROVE

The amount of negative stuff I get causes me to make this statement.

1. I care deeply for this Town. I believe it needs a new start in how its local government works. I believe the best way for this to happen is to see the abolition of Arun as a District and as a Council, and to see its work transferred to West Sussex along with all other districts. I see a single Town Council for our Urban area as the best way of promoting our interests and of delivering services, in concert with West Sussex.

2. The Polls have been called, not just by me, so people here can have a say.

3. I regard the current Regeneration process as flawed and as unlikely to deliver what the Town needs, and at this point I believe the SRH bid is the best option, but am open to realistic, costed alternatives should they develop.

4. I stand by a long record of public service, at no personal gain, to the Town:

- 28 years Fun Bus, which was the best and main activity for children seen in this area, which I started and which one day might even restart - 96k attendances, 3500+sessions, £1.3 million spent; 3x that value in volunteer effort by local folk

- started Number 18 with others over 20 years back, now its Chair, and it will reopen soon

- Councillor on Arun and for Town over 14 years, Mayor 2002/03, rated by not a few as one of its best, so I've been told more than once - I walked to Council meetings wearing the chain of office so people could stop me and chat

- saved Regis Centre from Arun axe in 1996 in cooperation with other Arun opposition councillors, and again, one-man effort, in 2005 after attempt to wind up Arun Arts - found donor with £350k to put into its future, more than Arun has in all the years since 1996

- was Chairman of the BRTC P&R Committee when we started Town Force, finding the money and at the same time reducing the precept by 1.5%, no one has achieved that since - 3.5 additional staff taken on - lessons learned running charities based on value-for-money

- ensured investigation into corruption at Town Council over Regis Centre operation in 1994

- one of founders of the Out of Arun campaign and polls in the early 90s where 9/10 said they wanted Bognor out of Arun, but we didn't progress it, alas

I have been a Samaritan here, I am national secretary of a children's rights campaign which I have been for 25 years.

This is not meant as a boast but as a clarification.