Million Pound Question
At a meeting of the Cabinet, Conservative Councillor Caroline Ansell, Shadow Portfolio Holder for Finance, will put forward a budget proposal which would see businesses in Eastbourne benefit from a million pound pledge.
"In the budget as it stands today, there is a striking lost opportunity. We are sitting on reserves with no vision for how they might be invested."
"I identified one million pounds which can be responsibly released to support medium, small, micro and start-up businesses who can show evidence of growth and potential job creation in Eastbourne."
"This money would be made available in grants or loans and subject to tested business plans. It would be part of the programme, 'East Sussex Invest', funded by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills and delivered by ESCC and Let's Do Business Group."
"The beauty of this proposal is that not a penny is lost in setting up or in managing the scheme. I have negotiated with East Sussex County Council and it has been agreed that the Eastbourne million can be ringfenced and postcoded and, there will be no cost to provide officer support."
"This investment would be a powerful statement of belief in our people and in our town and could give rise to a wave of new businesses and jobs."
"Going into the future Eastbourne Borough Council will increasingly rely on income from local business rates to continue to provide local services so this investment benefits all and makes sound economic sense."
"If this million pounds sits for another financial year, it will generate an estimated ten thousand pounds - in council terms, 'a rounding error' in the budget and a very poor return on tax payers' money."
"At budget time, it is usual practice for the opposition group to present their proposals on the night of Full Council. The time honoured response goes 'how can we give proper consideration .. if only you had got involved in the process.. ' Well, I'm side stepping all the politics and doing just that."