The Bexhill-Hastings Link Road – one of the projects enthusiastically supported by Peter Jones (photo: ESCC).

Peter Jones out as Selep revises chairman’s role

Peter Jones, former leader of East Sussex County council, has lost his job as chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership following a decision by directors not to extend his contract. New specifications have been drawn up for the chairman’s role. Nick Terdre reports.

In a surprise move Peter Jones has been let go as chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (Selep) after just one term. Appointed to the post in July 2013 for an initial two years after stepping down as a county councilllor and East Sussex County Council leader, he might have expected a lengthier tenure. But a panel set up to consider whether to extend his contract – and which consisted mainly of the same people who had decided his appointment – voted by four to two against keeping him on.

Peter Jones – former ESCC leader and now former Selep chairman (photo: ESCC).

The decision took into account an appraisal of his performance in which all board members, as well as government representatives, were invited to submit their views. The minutes of the board meeting on 25 September, at which the panel’s decision was ratified, give no indication why this decision was reached. But they do indicate Mr Jones’ response to the decision, recording that, “It became apparent very quickly after the [panel] meeting that Peter Jones had himself informed central government that he had been ‘sacked.’” Consulted by HOT, a spokesman for Selep was  unable to throw light on the reasons for the decision.

Mr Jones’s departure was welcomed by Combe Haven Defenders. “Peter Jones has spent years pursuing his pro-road, anti-environment agenda, first as leader of East Sussex County Council and later as Chair of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership,” said spokesman Anthony Bradnum. “Over that time he has championed destructive road projects including the Bexhill Hastings Link Road, the Queensway Gateway road and the North Bexhill Access road, as well as being a key supporter of SeaChange’s failed business parks locally.

“We welcome his departure, and hope that SELEP will now appoint a Chair with the vision to see that East Sussex needs decent public transport and real, sustainable, jobs, not polluting roads and jobs that never materialise.”

Selep is now under the interim chairmanship of one of its vice chairmen, George Kieffer. An open procedure has been adopted for the appointment of a new chairman, whereby a recruitment consultant will be hired and the job advertised, while applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed. The chairman’s role profile and personal specification are to be revised, and arrangements drawn up for assessing the performance of the new appointee.

Selep itself has undergone recent changes, with the adoption of a ‘federal’ structure devolving more decision-making power to the constituent areas – East Sussex, Kent, Essex, Medway, Southend and Thurrock. This followed discussions in which some of the areas had expressed dissatisfaction with the previous set-up.

As one of 39 local enterprise partnerships in England set up by the coalition government, Selep plays an influential role in disbursing government funds in the areas of infrastructure, skills and housing. In the 2015/16 financial year it has £84 million to invest, primarily in the form of loans. Projects it is currently supporting in East Sussex include the North Queensway Innovation Park, North Bexhill Business Mall and Queensway Gateway road, all of which are managed by Sea Change Sussex.

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