COMMENT: Residents deserve better from their elected members

Last July at a full meeting of Horsham District Council members approved by a majority the publication of the council’s draft preferred strategy which includes proposals for 2,500 new homes and a business park in North Horsham.

The Horsham Society was concerned to hear what appeared to be reliable rumours that members of the Conservative Group had been forbidden to vote against the motion because this was essentially a planning issue and political party whipping is forbidden in planning cases.

The Society therefore made a formal complaint to the council and after a long delay received a letter last December from the chief executive in which he said he had received an assurance from Cllr Ray Dawe, leader of the council and leader of the Conservative Group, that his members were not subject to a whip.