Claims opposition wants to delay Hove seafront leisure centre plans

Green and Conservative councillors in Brighton say they want to delve deeper into the plans to build a replacement for the King Alfred Leisure Centre on its current site to make sure the £47 million project is the best thing for residents.

But Labour’s deputy leader Jacob Taylor has criticised them, claiming that they are trying to delay the project and “frustrate the clear preference of residents”.

Cllr Jacob Taylor

Cllr Taylor, the finance lead in the new cabinet system, said: “We absolutely welcome scrutiny, and I look forward to attending the meeting with councillors to defend and promote our plans.

"But it's fascinating that the Greens and Tories are ganging up to try and frustrate the clear preference of residents.

"The last time the Greens and the Tories worked together on a big capital project it was to approve the i360. So it's ironic that they're teaming up once again to try and delay the building of a new leisure centre - something the city actually supports.

"I think it shows the difference between a Labour cabinet and the coalition of Green-Tory opposition. We're getting in and finally delivering a leisure centre that the city wants, whilst the dream team of delayers try to slow things down."

Under the new cabinet model opposing councillors can “call in” decisions made by the leading party in order to scrutinise them and call for changes.

Councillor Alistair McNair, leader of the Tories on Brighton and Hove City Council, said that while it was “quite clear” residents wanted the new leisure centre in the current location on Hove seafront, his party and the Greens “need to have the chance to ask the right questions about this”, adding that “once we have it we have it for 50 years”.

Cllr McNair hit back at claims the scrutiny would delay the plans. He said: “We need to make sure that all residents have a voice at the table.

“It’s complete nonsense. The lesson we have learned from the i360 is we really can’t rush these things.”

Brighton Green Party leader Councillor Steve Davis said: “Residents can be assured that this ‘call in’ is not about delaying the project.

The current King Alfred Leisure Centre

“We all want 21st century sports facilities but not a project with the potential for sky-rocketing costs due to a financial blunder by the Labour administration.

“Had we still had the committee system all of this could have been discussed but with the behind-closed-doors cabinet approach, which nobody voted for, the administration can be assured that we will be pressing them with full scrutiny at every turn.

“This isn’t about dithering and delaying - it’s about checks and balances and misrepresenting this call as us not supporting the project shows how much they want to shy away from scrutiny.”