Henry Smith has written to the Leader of West Sussex County Council, Cllr Louise Goldsmith, with regard to the issue of Crawley Open House.

Please click the link below to read the letter.

14th September 2018

Dear Peter

I understand that you have withdrawn Crawley Borough Council from the West Sussex Leaders’ Board of district, borough and county councils, which I am deeply concerned to learn of as I believe Crawley should be leading in West Sussex.

Additionally I am told you have stopped the Council’s officers from attending joint local authority meetings to tackle homelessness, which was led by Crawley Borough’s Chief Executive, so muting our town’s voice on this important issue too.

While I quite appreciate that you are, as am I, concerned at the County Council’s proposals to reduce homeless support budgets, I believe it best to engage constructively and collegially to find solutions, even when there may be policy differences. This is particularly the case as Crawley Borough Council is, of course, the local housing authority.

To remove Crawley from the joint effort to better serve people seems like personal petulance and political narrow-mindedness – it is certainly not active representation.  

On behalf of local residents I would be grateful if you would reconsider, and work together so we can ensure the most vulnerable in society are protected.

Yours sincerely

Henry Smith
Member of Parliament
Crawley Constituency

Copy to: Natalie Brahma-Pearl, Chief Executive, Crawley Borough Council