Finance Lead Cllr Darren Mackenzie praised officers, saying, “Our new ‘zero-based’ approach has made a real difference: it shows us the reality of our situation. This is a far more pragmatic approach, allowing us to be better prepared, and take measures to mitigate risk.” Darren added, “In Year One, we’re looking at a net deficit of £29,000. Compared with last year’s net deficit of £1.6 million, that’s a big drop. A break-even budget is a huge accomplishment.”

VISION FOR A THRIVING HASTINGS

The council also passed its five-year Corporate Plan, shaping its priorities for years to come. The Five Priorities are:

1. A financially stable council that delivers high quality, responsive services in cooperation with local people;

2. Tackling homelessness and ensuring good-quality housing;

3. Tackling poverty and inequality;

4. Taking action to tackle the climate and nature crisis;

5. Encouraging and supporting a sense of pride in our town.

Julia said, “This plan sets out our vision for a Hastings that residents are proud of, where they feel safe, valued and heard. Where everyone can live healthy, fulfilling lives, no matter who they are or where they’ve come from.

“I’m grateful for comments from residents, businesses, councillors and officers alike. We will now set about our Delivery Plan, detailing how we intend to meet our goals. This administration makes no apologies for prioritising financial stability – without that, we can’t achieve any of our priorities to make Hastings the thriving town we all want to see.”

CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Julia thanked HBC’s Housing Team for their incredible efforts to stabilise temporary accommodation numbers, “bucking the national trend of a 16% rise”. Julia warned, “40% of our net budget is being spent on housing our homeless – the pressure is unrelenting. This is a national crisis situation – but the Government doesn’t even have a homelessness strategy. They have still not addressed the Local Housing Allowance, which does not meet local rents.”

Adding to the council’s financial pressure is the forthcoming imposed local government reorganisation, on which Julia said, “It is disappointing that the Government is providing no funding for us to deliver these proposals to their ferocious timeline. Their letter this week confirms they expect us to use our reserves.”

Julia added, “Despite this, we are keen to facilitate as much community consultation as we can in this process. We want to ensure residents can influence where and how their local services are run. At the very least, we should be lobbying the Government to fund their reorganisation vision.”

The post GREENS PASS “STRONG & ROBUST” COUNCIL BUDGET AND ANNOUNCE FIVE-YEAR VISION FOR HASTINGS appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

“People are being denied their right to decide what happens in Hastings”

Green Leader for Hastings Borough Council Julia Hilton says, following today’s Government announcement that the East Sussex County Council elections in May have been cancelled.

“People must be allowed to vote at the local elections in May. The big parties in Westminster claim they want to devolve more power to local councils, but now, by cancelling due elections, both Labour and Conservatives are responsible for the biggest removal of power away from local people in recent history.”

“This gives the failing Conservative administration in East Sussex a free pass. Only an election in May can hold them accountable for the last four years of poor decision-making and disregard for Hastings. Our fragile democracy can’t afford to ignore the people’s right to vote.

“Green candidates give people a real alternative to the failed Tory and Labour parties, and the Green Party will always defend local decision-making.

“With a five-fold increase in Green councillor numbers over the last five local elections, it does look like the two big parties are running scared of facing the voters.” 

National Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP said, “How can the government claim an electoral mandate for these major local government changes if those most impacted see their elections cancelled? 

“The Green Party is urging the government to save our democracy, allow these long-planned elections to take place and get around the table to discuss how to make devolution work for people in local areas across the country.

“We want decisions made closest to where they have the greatest impact with significant devolution of powers and funding from Westminster. Without that, people will grow ever more cynical about politics.”

The post Labour cancels East Sussex County Council Elections appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

The Green Party of Hastings and Rye is pleased to see the trustees of the University of Brighton Academy Trust announce in a letter to staff and parents that they do not have faith in the leadership of the Trust.

The leadership are unable to ensure “that every academy is able to deliver the best education possible for all its young people” or ensure the staff who work in the academies in the Trust have “the resources to support this.”

Green Council Leader Julia Hilton says, “The Academies ‘project’ is clearly not working for Hastings. I have asked our MP Helena Dollimore to consider bringing an amendment to The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to allow failing academy schools to be brought back under local authority control.”

Secondary schools in Hastings are failing our children, with every one ‘requiring improvement’ according to OFSTED. The Green Party believes we must remove the ‘business model’ from the education system. Julia, who is also a County Councillor, says, “Real change would be for East Sussex County Council to establish a non-profit Local Authority Trust and transfer these now discarded schools back under an authority answerable to elected members of the county council.”

The Green Party of Hastings and Rye send its support and solidarity to the National Education Union (NEU), whose tireless campaigning has brought national attention to this issue.

After a Freedom of Information request, made by the previous MP for Hastings and Rye Sally-Ann Hart, revealed the Trust had diverted finances away from schools to its central services, the NEU conducted five days of industrial action to highlight the impact this had on working terms and conditions.

Julia adds, “Greens stood side-by-side with the NEU during this action, and we stand with their call to put the young people of Hastings and St Leonards’ educations first.”

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Cllr Julia Hilton, Leader of Hastings Borough Council, condemns Tory plans to cancel East Sussex County Council’s elections

East Sussex Conservatives today voted to use the government’s recently announced shake-up of local councils as a means to suspend the May 2025 County elections. If agreed by Government, this would keep them in power at ESCC for at least two more years.

The dying Conservative regime – which has spent the last ten years resisting meaningful climate action – has been hanging onto power by a thread since 2023. If the elections are cancelled, they would be the ones to decide who leads the creation of a new mega-council, sweeping away Hastings and all the other district and borough councils in East and West Sussex.

The Green Group of Councillors called for today’s Extraordinary General Meeting at County Hall in Lewes, in order that the full council could at least debate the matter. Other parties joined the Greens in supporting their motion to reject the Conservative plan to request cancellation of the elections in order to make the priority list for devolution. They argued that the devolution process could still happen without cancelling the elections. Sadly, they lost the vote 23-21.

Greens across Eas Sussex have come together to write to the Minister for Local Government, asking that he reject ESCC’s request. You can write too using our template here.

The Government’s decision should be announced by the end of the month.

The post devolution & local government reorganisation appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

At last night’s full council, Green Cllr Amanda Jobson saw her motion for Hastings Borough Council to back the Parliamentary Climate & Nature (CAN) Bill finally voted through, having been delayed since July.

In an impassioned speech introducing the motion, Cllr Jobson said, “This bill is already backed by 250 cross-party MPs and peers. 1200 scientists have written to Parliament. Here in Hastings, floods, coastal erosion and landslides have already impacted lives. In 2019, we declared a climate emergency… now, business as usual is not good enough.”

Cllr Jobson urged all councillors to join her in backing her motion. She concluded, “I’m doing this for my children, and for future generations.”

The motion includes a commitment to support the CAN Bill and urge MP Helena Dollimore, who has not yet pledged her support, to do the same. It also commits the council to setting up a Climate Action working group, create a Climate Adaptation plan and seek funding for climate action. The motion was passed with 17 votes For, 0 Against, and 11 abstentions. 

The decision was met with cheers from Standing Up For Nature campaigners in the public gallery.

The post FULL COUNCIL 20TH NOVEMBER 2024 (2) appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

At LAST NIGHT’S Full Council, Green Council Leader Julia Hilton read out a letter to Prime Minister Kier Starmer addressing the crisis in Gaza, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon.

The letter – which has so far been agreed by the Labour group leader and the Mayor – calls for a multilateral ceasefire, an end to arms exports and the upholding of international law. The full letter reads:

“Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing this letter to you today as leaders of the political groups on Hastings Borough Council representing our community deeply committed to justice, peace, and human dignity. The escalating crisis in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, Palestine, Israel, and Lebanon, demands our immediate and unwavering attention. The events following the horrific attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, have led to unprecedented devastation. In Gaza, the situation has deteriorated alarmingly.

In Hastings, we feel this tragedy acutely. Our town is home to diverse communities, including those with ties to the Middle East, as well as British Jewish and Muslim residents. The conflict’s reverberations are felt here, and we must ensure it does not sow division among us.

Our connection to the region is profound. For over three years, Hastings has nurtured a friendship link with the community of Al-Mawasi in Gaza. This relationship has facilitated cultural exchange and provided much-needed humanitarian aid. In the wake of the recent bombings, our commitment to Al-Mawasi has only deepened, as we strive to support our friends in their time of need.

Prime Minister, we call upon your government to take decisive action:

1. Pursue Peace: Advocate for a multilateral ceasefire to halt the bloodshed and establish a foundation for lasting peace in the region.

2. Humanitarian Aid, Not Arms: Cease arms exports to any party involved in the conflict and prioritise humanitarian assistance to alleviate suffering.

3. Uphold International Law: Utilise all diplomatic and legal measures to ensure accountability for violations of international law and to defend the principles of justice.

4. Support Local and Global Connections: Recognise and promote initiatives like Friendship links as powerful tools for fostering empathy, understanding, and tangible aid to those in need.

Hastings is a small town with a big heart. Through the friendship shared between our community groups and Al-Mawasi, we have demonstrated the power of community solidarity. However, meaningful, lasting change requires leadership at national and international levels.

Prime Minister, we urge you to demonstrate that leadership. Britain must stand firmly on the side of humanity, justice, and peace, offering hope to the people of Gaza and beyond. Let our community in Hastings inspire the nation to build bridges, not walls, and to seek unity where there is division.

Thank you.”

Cllr Hilton said, “I hope all group leaders will join me in signing this letter.”

Last week, Green MPs wrote to foreign secretary David Lammy, urging him to clarify the UK government’s position on the risk of genocide in Gaza and what might trigger the UK’s obligation to take action to prevent genocide.

The post FULL COUNCIL 20TH NOVEMBER 2024 appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

Green-led Hastings Borough Council called Southern Water to their second public council meeting last Monday, to face further scrutiny over their long-awaited detailed plan for Hastings.

In the public meeting, it was clear that Southern Water were trying to move on from past failings, stating that their new management team came with “good intentions”. CEO Lawrence Gosden said, “It’s not of our doing but we’re here to fix it.” Several councillors proclaimed a “lack of trust” and Green Cllr Becca Horn appealed directly to Mr Gosden to revisit the issue of householder compensation for the water outage in May. Becca said, “You want us to draw a line in the sand, and move forward – but this is preventing us. My plea is that you go back to your maths book and see what you can do.” Mr Gosden agreed to do just that.

On the flooding, Mr Gosden admitted that the manhole on South Terrace “should never have been built.” When asked about flood victims being unable to get insurance for their homes, Mr Gosden stated that residents could now go back to their insurers as the problem had been resolved. “They should not be getting high premiums now that the asset has been fixed.”

Regarding water pollution, councillors and members of the public alike pressed Southern Water for their ‘plan’ for Old Roar Gill, which they have now agreed to collate and share in their six-monthly updates to HBC. When criticised over their timeline for reducing bathing water pollution as “too little, too late”, Southern Water’s Managing Director of Wastewater, John Penicud, promised to set up a meeting with their Clean Rivers and Seas team to go through “the full plan for Hastings.”

Reflecting on the meeting, Green Councillor Mark Etherington, who holds Southern Water in his portfolio, said, “I’m pleased that our administration has managed to get their Senior Leadership to come into council twice now, and to commit to six-monthly updates. This seems to me to be essential. Though there is still much scrutiny to be done – and reparations to be made – we gradually make progress. Clearly, the level of debt in Southern Water raises concerns about the viability of their ambitious renewal and renovation plans – and the potential impact of increased bills on our residents. We will continue to closely scrutinise Southern Water’s performance.”

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DOGS PERMITTED RETURN TO OLD TOWN BEACHES IN SUMMER

At last night’s meeting, our all-Green cabinet voted unanimously to uphold the results of the dog PSPO consultation, which saw Option 2 – removing the exclusion zone from both Rock-a-Nore and Stade beaches – favoured by 64% of respondents. The news heralded applause from members of the public who were in attendance.

Officers remarked that this consultation had seen an unprecedented interest with 2850 respondents – the council’s biggest consultation to date. However it was noted that this still only represents 2.5% of the borough’s total population. Cllr Adele Bates, whose portfolio includes Community Engagement, asked what could be learned from the relative success, and officers replied that they had used “local networks”, such as the Coastal Users Group, to help spread the word, along with seafront posters advertising the consultation.

Deputy Leader Glenn Haffenden commented,

“This issue is very specific. With the changes we’re making to the way we hold consultations, I’m hopeful that, for issues that impact a wider proportion of the population, such as the Corporate Plan, we’ll see an even greater engagement.”

FINANCE

Other items on the agenda included an update from Finance that the recent Government budget would cost the council an extra £250,000 for employer’s National Insurance. Leader of the Council, Julia Hilton, noted that no change to the Local Housing Allowance was a “huge gap in the budget”. Julia remarked,

“There is no rental housing available in Hastings at LHA rates. This will have a real detrimental impact on our residents.”

Cabinet also agreed to new local fees and charges, with many areas seeing little or no increase. Green Leader Julia Hilton said,

“The removal of charges for charity and community hire of our event spaces is most welcome”.

Cllr Darren Mackenzie, lead member on Finance, explained that the council were taking a different approach by conducting a “sensitivity analysis” of their rates to “strike the balance between ensuring financial stability and considering the needs of the town.”

PERFORMANCE

Cabinet welcomed the council’s new, easier-to-view performance monitoring dashboard, which is available on the council’s website for everyone to view.

Cllr Bates commented that it was “much easier to read” and Cllr Mark Etherington praised the team, stating, “this really improves our transparency”. You can view the dashboard here.

GET INVOLVED

30 minutes of each cabinet meeting are reserved for public questions – come along and ask yours!

The post Cabinet Update 4 Nov 24 appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

Tonight’s cabinet meeting announced the creation of a new ‘Capital Assurance Board’ – a cross party councillor and officer working group who will advise and help to develop the council’s capital investment strategy as well as better manage the assets we own as a council.

Council leader Julia Hilton said, “This Green initiative has been brought in to provide much-needed oversight of the council’s capital programme, and aid better financial decision-making.”

The council continues to find itself on rocky ground financially, however, and Cllr Hilton warned of a possible “perfect storm” with potential cuts at East Sussex County Council adding to an already strained local budget, due to continued pressure from people being made homeless. Julia explained, “Suggested cuts at County, such as to the Floating Housing Support Service, could increase our temporary accommodation costs by as much as £3 million under a worst case scenario. We’re only just starting to see our numbers stabilise through the measures we’ve been taking locally. It’s a huge concern.”

Julia called for everyone who uses ESCC’s services to answer their consultation. “It’s open until 28th November. Please make your views heard about how these cuts might impact you.”

You can find the consultations online: https://consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/consultation_finder/ 

Paper copies will be made available at Hastings Borough Council’s Contact Centre.

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