Bastiman ‘back to old, closed’ decision-making
‘False to claim Futurist demolition approved’
The Scarborough Borough Labour Group has accused the Conservative leader of taking the council for granted after he claimed this week that the decision has already been made that the Futurist will be demolished. Cllr Derek Bastiman reiterated his stance that the decision over the theatre had been taken and in January councillors would just be voting on how to demolish it and the cost.
He said:“The process has been adhered to all the way through. There’s an agreement that the Futurist will be demolished. The meeting in January is to approve a figure for the demolition of the Futurist and the stabilisation of the site.”
However, Labour leader Steve Siddons said his party disputed Cllr Bastiman’s version of the process so far because the demolition has not been ratified.
He said Labour councillors could not support any decision unless all the relevant information was made public.
He said: “There has been no council decision to demolish the Futurist – there was a deci- sion to budget £4 million for the Futurist redevelopment.
“Councillor Bastiman can’t take January’s council meeting or its vote for granted.
“Like most people in the borough, the Labour Group are not clear what is best or achievable.
“We need to see the full proposal for this redevelopment and what else it leads to, and fully scrutinise it before we decide to support or oppose it.
“As important as the demolition decision is, there are even bigger implications. Scarborough taxpayers need assurance that their investment is not just the start of another expensive project that brings little return to the town or its people.
“Key council funding from central government is disappearing over the next four years. Without pertinent questioning of every spending decision together with innovative thinking about future projects, the borough and the council taxpayer will suffer. The old methods won’t work, we can’t afford any mistakes.
“Scarborough, Whitby and Filey’s coast, their town centres and their harbours are our key assets. Decision making on their future, at the last minute and after 11th hour proposals, a common Scarborough Borough practice, is now unacceptable, as is bluster and cohesion.
“I suggested to the council leader at the last council that the public’s confidence in this project depends on openness, timely information and proper scrutiny of this proposal.
“Despite his assurance then, his new statement suggests a return to old, closed and unacceptable decision-making.
“We warn, without timely and full open information and debate, the Labour Group will not be in a position to support a proposal.”