For many years Hastings Borough Council was run by a majority Labour administration. At the elections last May that authority was lost, and the council is now in ‘no overall control’. Until a few weeks ago Labour and the Greens ran the council as an alliance, but interference from Labour’s National Executive put paid to that effective working arrangement. Glenn Haffenden and I were removed from the cabinet, and the council is now being led by a minority Labour administration.
Labour’s habit of autocracy persists. Two recent examples:
On 1st June the council’s planning committee – an apolitical body with a balance of Labour, Conservatives, and Greens – approved unanimously the proposal submitted by Hastings United Football Club to develop the Tilekiln site in Hollington as a new sports centre, including two 3G (all-weather) pitches, a clubhouse with teaching and training facilities, and a multi-use games area. Outline planning permission was granted for housing at the Pilot Field site, which would partly fund the Tile Kiln development, all subject to the council’s agreement. On 8th June Paul Barnett, leader of the Council, confirmed his earlier unilateral decision that council land would not be released for the Tile Kiln development, citing the need to preserve green space. There has been no discussion at full council to debate alternatives. At the council meeting on 15th December the Greens will support a motion asking officers to demonstrate whether there is a legal and business case for the Tile Kiln development. The intention is that all councillors should be able to make a decision fully informed by the facts.
A second example: St Mary in the Castle, a popular venue, lacks a lessee. It’s a challenging site and needs significant investment. Under the current constitution decisions relating to property are delegated to the cabinet, which has put St Mary’s up for sale. There is considerable public disquiet over this decision. It’s a huge piece of our public estate. Should the matter not be debated in council? Why was rejuvenation of the building not considered as part of Town Deal plans, particularly as it is so closely associated with the Castle?
In both cases the problem is that the cabinet no longer represents the majority. In England the council government models are: the cabinet system, the committee system, or a hybrid of the two. The cabinet system relies on the skills of a few and allows for quick decisions; the committee system draws on the skills of the many and allows for better decisions, with cross party support.
Hastings Borough Council is in a financial fix. Since 2010 Government grants to local councils have been slashed by 70%; HBC reserves are perilously low. Determined action is needed. Essentially, we need better decisions.
On 15th December I will bring a motion calling on the council to set up a group to review our governance and move to a more democratic and inclusive decision-making structure. We need a fresh start! Not for the first time, the Greens are shaking things up.