District council leader tells Matt Western to “stop playing political games”

Councillor (Cllr) Andrew Day, leader of Warwick District Council (WDC), has called on Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western to “stop playing political games with the regeneration of Leamington Spa”.

This follows from last week when the MP publicly requested the council to disclose how much was used to fund their headquarters’ relocation plan, which was subjected to local backlash and cancelled on 3 September.

Originally projected to cost £18 million, the plan was to be delivered through a limited liability partnership (LLP) with Public Sector PLC (PSP).

Addressing its cancellation, Mr Western asked the council for “full disclosure” of “how many millions this has cost the taxpayer in wasted project costs and fees”.

“This kind of outsourcing and private involvement in the business of local authorities should always be subject to the highest possible scrutiny,” he said.

“I have been consistently vocal against the move, which in my view, and the view of many business owners in Leamington, would be seriously damaging to the local economy.”

On 11 September, Cllr Day responded to the MP in a letter which explained that WDC “is working with a range of partner organisations to develop schemes for the regeneration of our beautiful town”, in light of “significant challenges” facing Leamington.

“This work is too important to be used as a political ‘punching bag’ by Mr Western,” the letter read, adding that regeneration schemes for the headquarters, Covent Garden carpark, Riverside House and Creative Quarter aimed to “create jobs and provide much needed public facilities”.

Cllr Day wrote that Mr Western “knows full well” that WDC “has paid nothing ‘in wasted project costs and fees to PSP'” – who “met the development costs in bringing forward” the proposals for the headquarters, carpark and Riverside House

Cllr Day wrote that Mr Western “knows full well” that WDC “has paid nothing ‘in wasted project costs and fees to PSP'” – who “met the development costs in bringing forward” the proposals for the headquarters, carpark and Riverside House – after he met the MP on 6 August.

During then, Cllr Day said Mr Western was informed that the council “was carefully reviewing the merits” of the LLP and “all options to deliver the maximum public benefit” were being considered. The MP would also be “fully briefed on the plans” once they were formulated.

He stressed the transparency of the relationship between WDC and PSP, as well as Mr Western’s awareness of it, who reportedly had meetings, briefings and reviews with the developer.

The cllr said that Mr Western’s statement against WDC, even after “an attempt to ‘reset’ the relationship”, reflects “a wider more serious issue…about the health of our local democracy”.

Describing the various political groups involved in dealings with PSP – including Conservatives, Whitnash Residents’ Association, as well as Labour and Green cllrs – and their “alliance” in taking “co-perative approach”, Cllr Day expressed his concern that the same “has not been established with Matt Western”.

He stated that he has yet to receive the MP’s letter on issues with the PSP, while the latter declined the former’s offer of a call to answer any questions “and instead seized the opportunity to launch a self-serving political attack”.

Neither I nor the public and local businesses will be happy until the project is permanently shelved

– Matt Western

Citing “a first-hand understanding of the significant personal commitment made by our elected representatives in serving the community”, Cllr Day “remain(s) hopeful that political point scoring can be put aside” and a “constructive relationship” can be established between both parties “for the benefit of all our residents”, and “to work together in a spirit of genuine co-operation to deliver this important regeneration programme”.

Matt Western has since responded to Cllr Day through the Leamington Observer, reiterating that his stance on the project as “seriously flawed” and “a waste of money” has not changed.

“Neither I nor the public and local businesses will be happy until the project is permanently shelved,” he said, adding that the cllr knows there has been “significant costs to the council and that there will be compensation costs to PSP for work they’ve undertaken”.

He added that his “determination to hold both the council and PSP to scrutiny” brought about public meeting last October and an agreement between the parties.

Mr Western continued: “It is disappointing Coun Day has chosen to personally attack me on two issues in one letter. Such a co-ordinated attack is inappropriate.”

The MP emphasised expectations from the public for him to “hold a light to the workings of the government and local authorities”, and that “there will be costs and compensation payments and these will be significant and in the millions of pounds”.