At Wednesday’s full council meeting, Green Leader Julia Hilton outlined the agreed principles for undertaking the Labour government’s requirements for a new unitary authority to replace all the current councils in East Sussex, including Hasting Borough Council.
“This is our chance to create thriving, empowered communities in Hastings.” – CLLR JULIA HILTON
Julia pledged the council’s commitment to taking a “community-powered approach” to the redesign of services, and “lobbying hard for any new council to be based in Hastings”.
Julia praised councillors across all parties for “their passion and commitment” to making the most of the imposed changes, and confirmed meeting with local businesses and voluntary sector partners to ask for their input. “While none of this is of our choosing, it’s important that we use our shared skills and knowledge to design a more integrated future for Hastings and empower our communities to be a part of it.
“Hastings needs a much stronger voice on skills and education provision, for example, and we must tackle inequalities and increase citizen engagement in decision-making.”
While the geography for the new council is not yet agreed, Julia was firm that function and design must come first, and the size of the council must be based on clear evidence. “We’re looking at three options – this is a start. Now we must do the hard work of putting evidence together.”
“THERE ARE TWO THINGS THIS PROCESS NEEDS TO SUCCEED: TIME AND MONEY. NEITHER HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THIS LABOUR GOVERNMENT.” – CLLR BECCA HORN
Strong calls were made to the Labour Government to provide funding to support the reorganisation process. Green Cllr Becca Horn remarked, “This is another full-time job for our officers while they’re still trying to deliver day-to-day services.” Julia called the lack of a commitment to proper reform of local government finance a “travesty” when “four out of the six councils in East Sussex run out of money in two years’ time.”
Discussions were also had around the proposed Mayoral Combined Authority for the whole of Sussex, with Green councillors calling for a clear legal duty on tackling inequality, a statutory climate and nature duty, and insisting the new Mayor must have an ‘assembly-style’ authority, elected by proportional representation, to hold them properly to account.
Want to have your say on the new Mayor of Sussex? The Government consultation is open until 13th April. Read the Green Response and then share your own views here.