The article reflects what many residents have already told us: they signed petitions in good faith, expecting their voice to count on a local issue, but never heard anything back. In other cases, people said they were put off signing altogether because there was no clear opt-out or explanation of how their personal information would be used.

This is not a party-political issue. It is a question of transparency and trust.

We have submitted a formal Freedom of Information request and a separate data protection complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office. These are measured, legal steps available to any member of the public — not political attacks. If there is nothing to hide, the responses will clarify that.

But the longer the silence continues, the more serious the questions become. As the article points out, we are now seeing similar practices extended to so-called public meetings, where access is restricted unless residents hand over their personal details. That is not democratic engagement — it is managed participation through data collection.

We urge Helena Dollimore MP and the Labour Party to publish:

• A list of which petitions were submitted and to whom
• What outcomes, if any, were achieved
• A clear explanation of what happens to signatories’ data
• A commitment to data transparency moving forward

Because yes, it is a sign of a healthy democracy when elected representatives engage with the public. But it is also a sign of a strong democracy when residents are able to ask fair questions and receive full, honest answers in return.

We will continue to do our part to protect the public interest.

The post Green Party response to HOT article on Helena Dollimore petitions and data use appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

In the last couple of years, Helena Dollimore MP has launched a string of local petitions. These include playground campaigns, water outages, fire service cutbacks, council roadworks, and most recently, a dispute over café seating near Bottle Alley.

Each one follows the same format. A form is shared on her political website. Personal details are requested. A campaign is launched. But what happens next is rarely clear. Are these petitions ever submitted? Are results published? Or are they just used to build contact lists?

This article looks at the pattern. It asks what these petitions are really for. And it questions whether they are giving power to the public, or just gathering data for political use.

Sign your name, give your data

Every petition on Helena Dollimore’s website asks for your name, email address, postcode and phone number. Each one includes a small-print note that your data may be matched to the electoral register and used to inform future communications.

There is no option to sign the petition anonymously. There is no way to support the issue without handing over your personal details. And crucially, there is no system for sharing the results. Many petitions seem to go nowhere once they are launched.

The campaign becomes the message. The sign-up becomes the goal.

The Selkie case exposed this clearly

When a local beach café came into conflict with the council, Helena Dollimore chose not to meet the council leader. She chose not to engage with the trust that manages the seafront land. Instead, she launched a new petition with little legal context and no coordination with local decision makers.

The result was a spike in public anger, without any resolution. What should have been a discussion turned into a headline moment. A local matter was used to generate pressure without process.

Failing to meet, and instead turning to public outrage and online petitions, only highlights their political naivety and lack of understanding of how legal responsibility works in practice.

Responsible leadership should mean bridge building, not outrage chasing.

A pattern of distraction

This is not the first time Helena Dollimore has appeared at the scene of a local issue with a headline and a camera crew.

Again and again, we see her step into issues that are meant to be dealt with by local councillors. Why? Because those councillors will not challenge Labour’s inner circle or the centralised control of the national party. The result is that MPs like Helena take on the role of community fixer. Not to shift power, but to create the illusion of action.

This behaviour is not new

Between 2017 and 2019, the Labour Party was formally warned by the Information Commissioner for using issue-based petitions to collect voter data. People thought they were signing up to support schools, hospitals and services. In reality, they were added to political databases and targeted for follow-up. Even last year the party was warned by the Information Commissioner over not responding to Subject Access Requests, and a data breach following a cyber attack.

The Selkie petition and others appear to repeat this model. A public issue is raised. A form is created. Supporters are invited to sign. But little is done to show where that information goes, who sees it, or whether their voice is used in decision making.

Not just Labour

Other parties have used similar tactics. Some Conservative MPs run “Tell us what matters” surveys. Some Liberal Democrat councillors use petitions to gather ward-level contact data. But too often, these actions lack proper transparency. Civic issues are used as entry points for party contact, not for serious policy change.

This is why we need stronger standards and honest communication.

The Green way is different

The Green Party believes people should be able to support a campaign without being automatically added to a mailing list. That is why all our petitions include a clear opt-in. They explain how data will be used. They never match personal details to electoral records without explicit permission.

We also believe petitions should be submitted, not stored. Outcomes should be published. Residents should be invited into the process, not turned into a file of contact details.

An FOI request is now live

A Freedom of Information request has now been submitted to Helena Dollimore’s parliamentary office and a response is due by the 22nd August 2025.

It asks:

• How many people signed each of her 15 petitions
• Whether they were submitted to decision makers
• What happened as a result
• How the data was stored
• Whether signatories were contacted for political reasons

When a response is received, it will be published in full. If no clear answer is given, that will also be shared publicly.

What we are asking for

We believe three things must change:

1. Politicians must be transparent about how petition data is used
2. Petition outcomes must be shared with the public
3. Local issues must not be used to harvest data without consent

Hastings and Rye residents care deeply about their town. They want a better future. They deserve politics that respects their voice, not platforms that quietly collect their details.

📩 For information or to add your support, email chair@hastings.greenparty.org.uk

Let us build politics based on accountability, not algorithms.

The post Petitions or Political Profiling? appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

The ICC Confirms What Greens Have Long Said: Climate Inaction Violates Human Rights

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer MP welcomed the ruling, saying:

“The UK has a legal duty to speed up the transition towards a cleaner, greener economy and block any new licences for the extraction of fossil fuels. The court has recognised that rich countries like the UK, responsible for ongoing and historic pollution, have a special responsibility to act, and to offer compensation to communities already suffering from floods, droughts, and rising sea levels.”

This ruling confirms what Greens have said for years. The climate crisis is a human rights crisis. Inaction puts lives, health, homes and livelihoods at risk. And for wealthy, high-emission nations like the UK, failure to act is now a breach of responsibility, both moral and legal.

The UK’s Legacy and a Responsibility to Lead

The United Kingdom’s industrial legacy means it has one of the largest historical carbon footprints in the world. That legacy comes with a duty to lead, not to cut corners.

But in 2021, the UK government reduced its overseas aid budget from 0.7 percent of national income to 0.5 percent. In 2025, this was cut again to 0.3 percent. These decisions directly undermined the UK’s climate finance commitments to vulnerable countries and communities.

Schemes like the Africa Climate Change Fund — which delivered clean energy and early-warning flood systems — relied on international aid. Without consistent funding, many programmes face scaling back or cancellation, leaving communities less protected and more exposed to harm.

Why This Matters in Hastings

This is not just a global issue. The climate crisis is reshaping life here in Hastings.

Sea levels are rising. Rainfall is intensifying. Infrastructure is under strain. The flood on 23rd July was just the latest in a growing pattern. We are already seeing the cost of delay, and the impact is hitting working-class communities first.

This is why local leadership matters. And this is why Greens are making a difference.

What Hastings Greens Are Doing

Since taking leadership at Hastings Borough Council, Green councillors have made climate and nature a priority, after years of neglect.

✅ On local climate action, we have:

• Declared both a Nature and Climate Emergency
• Committed the borough to reach Net Zero
• Raised Hastings’ Climate Emergency UK Scorecard rating from 24 percent in 2023 to 32 percent in 2025
• Invested in tree planting, improving biodiversity in the borough
• Supported home retrofit and community energy schemes, helping to cut bills and carbon
• Pushed for sustainable transport and cleaner public vehicles, making it easier for people to move around without pollution
• Secured funding to appoint a dedicated climate officer inside the council
• Passed a Plastics-Free Hastings motion, reducing single-use plastics across council operations and public events
• Introduced higher building standards for new council housing, ensuring greater energy efficiency and climate resilience
• Supported Clean Water Action and coastal conservation, working with community groups including Plastic Free Hastings
• Pressed for retrofitting to be included in the East Sussex County Council Housing Strategy, while advocating for a joined-up green jobs plan
• Brought forward and passed the Climate and Nature Motion in November 2024, which committed the council to:
  • Publicly support the national Climate and Nature Bill
  • Inform local residents and media of the council’s backing
  • Write to campaign groups and MPs urging national support
  • Take responsibility for reversing biodiversity decline and embed nature protection in all decisions
  • Create a cross-party working group to identify priorities, strengthen officer capacity and develop a climate adaptation plan for the town
  • Work with local partners to fund a climate assembly or town-wide forum involving residents, schools, health services, businesses and community groups

The motion was rooted in local reality. February 2024 brought the heaviest rainfall in over a century, with repeated flooding and landslips across the borough. The council acknowledged that Hastings cannot afford to delay action any longer — and that climate and nature must be tackled together.

Climate Targets and the Truth

We are often asked if Hastings will reach Net Zero by 2030.

The honest answer is no. Not because the goal is wrong, but because the time was wasted before the Greens took office. There was no meaningful strategy in place. Five years is not long enough to reverse decades of inaction.

What we can do, and are doing, is put the right foundations in place. That means building local expertise, committing to community-wide adaptation, and acting with urgency and transparency.

From Flooded Streets to the International Stage

The flooding on 23rd July showed what happens when the climate crisis is ignored. The ICC ruling shows what happens when the world stops accepting excuses.

This is a moment of reckoning.

The future of our town — and our role in a fairer, more sustainable world — depends on what we do now.

Be Part of the Solution

Hastings Green Party believes in climate justice. We believe action must match the scale of the crisis. We believe in truth, in transparency, and in taking responsibility — locally and globally.

We believe that Hastings can lead.

But we cannot do it without you.

You can join the Green Party. You can support climate action in your ward. You can vote for candidates who prioritise people and the planet. And you can demand that national government funds local action, not undermines it.

You can do all this from as little as £6 a year.

Join us. Take action. Be part of the solution.

Join the Green Party
Contact Hastings Green Party

The post Hastings is Living the Climate Crisis. Be Part of the Solution. appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

Hastings Borough Council has officially declared a Nature Emergency, following the successful passage of a motion brought forward by Green Party Councillor Jo Walker and seconded by Councillor Julia Hilton.

This landmark decision means urgent and joined-up action to reverse biodiversity loss, protect our local wildlife, and embed nature recovery into all areas of council policy.

What This Means for Hastings

The motion sets out a bold vision for nature, including:

• ✅ Managing 30% of council-owned land for nature by 2030
• ✅ Supporting tree planting, wetland restoration, and reducing mowing to create space for wildlife
• ✅ Embedding biodiversity targets in local planning rules
• ✅ Working with farmers and landowners to restore natural habitats
• ✅ Launching a Green Skills & Stewardship programme to create jobs in the local nature recovery sector
• ✅ Using the Woodland Trust’s Nature Emergency Scorecard to track progress

This is a practical, science-led response to the fact that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Hastings has a proud 30-year history of conservation leadership — and now we’re stepping up again.

Standing Up Against Dangerous National Plans

An important amendment was added to the motion, proposed by Councillor Amanda Jobson, raising concern about the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The amendment warns that the Bill would seriously weaken environmental protections and limit public participation in local planning decisions. The Council has now committed to writing to national leaders and our MP to demand changes to the Bill that will safeguard our habitats and preserve democratic oversight.

A Missed Opportunity for Labour

While the motion was backed by strong community support and led by Green councillors, it was disappointing to see Labour councillors vote against this crucial step for nature. Nonetheless, nature won the day.

A Greener Future for Hastings

This is about making Hastings a place where people and wildlife thrive together. With the climate and ecological crises deepening, councils like ours must act bravely and decisively.

Let’s keep the momentum going for the trees, the bees, the birds, and for future generations.

The post Hastings Declares a Nature Emergency 🌿 appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

🕊 Green Leadership in Action 🕊

This motion reflects long-standing Green Party policy in support of peace, human rights, and international law. It was shaped through collaboration with local campaigners and brought forward by Hastings Green councillors determined to ensure the town stands up for justice.

Cllr Yunis Smith told the chamber:

“We are witnessing the next phase of ethnic cleansing. These are not humanitarian efforts. They are crimes against humanity in real time.”

The motion commits Hastings Borough Council to:

1. Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the return of all hostages
2. Write to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging an end to UK arms sales and a UN backed plan for humanitarian aid and reconstruction
3. Recognise and support the existing friendship link with Al Mawasi
4. Encourage councillors to work with local residents to organise cultural and educational exchanges with the people of Al Mawasi

These activities will be entirely self-funded with no cost to the council.

🕊 Local Voices Welcome the Motion 🕊

The motion was warmly welcomed by local campaigners and community groups.

Hastings Friends of Al Mawasi

Since 2021, this grassroots group has led efforts to build links with the Palestinian coastal town of Al Mawasi. Their work includes raising funds for vital projects, supporting education and solar energy, and fostering cultural understanding between the two towns. The motion formally recognises their role and invites further collaboration.

“This friendship link is a small but meaningful gesture of solidarity. It connects our community directly to people living under siege, and helps Hastings act with compassion and conscience.”

Hastings and Rye Palestinian Solidarity Committee

The local solidarity group praised the Green Party for taking the lead and described the vote as a turning point for grassroots action.

“This motion affirms Hastings’ commitment to stand with the oppressed, to call for justice, and to resist the normalisation of genocide. We now call on the UK government to end its complicity in war crimes and act decisively in support of international law.”

🕊 Jewish Residents Join Call for Justice

The motion was also welcomed by Hastings Jews for Justice, a local group of Jewish residents who were present in the chamber for the debate. They issued a statement describing the motion as:

“An important act of solidarity with a people who are being made to suffer in the most horrific ways imaginable.”

They added:

“We reject the idea, expressed by some during the debate, that standing up for people facing genocide is antisemitic. To equate Jewish identity with war crimes is false, and deeply antisemitic. Hastings has shown courage. This is not in our name.”

Their statement adds to the growing number of Jewish voices in the UK who are calling for peace and accountability, while making clear they do not speak for all.

🕊 A Green Vision for a Just World

This motion is a clear example of Green values in action. While others hesitated, Hastings Green councillors spoke up. They led from the front and gave voice to the residents who have marched, vigiled, written letters, and sent aid to Gaza.

We are proud that it was Green councillors who made this motion happen. Proud that Hastings has become the first town in the UK to formally support a friendship with Gaza. And proud that we stood on the right side of history.

#GreenValuesInAction #GreensLeadOnJustice
#CeasefireNow #HastingsForPalestine
#FriendshipNotOccupation #SolidarityWithAlMawasi
#NotInOurName #MotionPassed

The post “An Important Act of Solidarity” – Local Groups Welcome Green Led Gaza Motion 🕊 appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

On 9 July 2025 thousands gathered outside Parliament for one of the largest climate and nature lobbies in a decade.

The message was clear. People from across the country want serious action for a fairer greener future. From Hastings there was just one political representative present.

That was our very own Cllr Amanda Jobson for Gensing and member of the Green Party.

Amanda speaks with our local MP

As part of the day Amanda joined others from Hastings and Rye to speak directly with Helena Dollimore MP. The group shared local concerns and called on her to support action on warm homes, nature protection and support for communities most impacted by climate change. It was an important chance to push for joined up thinking between Parliament and our town.

The only councillor from Hastings to attend

Cllr Jobson stood alongside more than five thousand others in Westminster. From schoolchildren and community leaders to surfers and pensioners, the lobby brought together people from all walks of life. The day was full of energy, from creative street protest to packed public meetings and panel events.

“This was people power in action. It showed what is possible when we come together with a clear demand. Real support for real change.”
— Cllr Amanda Jobson

The national impact

Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a public statement in response. Campaigners welcomed it but made clear that action must follow words.

Greens will be watching closely to ensure promises are kept. That now looks unlikely, given the actions of the local Labour Party just days later at Hastings Borough Council.

Labour votes against nature motion

At the July council meeting, a Nature Emergency motion and crucial amendment brought by Green councillors Jo Walker and Amanda Jobson were voted against by every Labour councillor present. This included commitments to embed nature protection in decision making, support rewilding and invest in climate resilience.

Green Cllr Jo Walker has written to Helena Dollimore MP to challenge her party’s failure to back this plan at a local level. You can read more about that here.

What happens next

This was not a one off. From 13 to 20 September 2025 there will be a nationwide Lobby Week. Visit the Act Now, Change Forever website to join their mailing list.

Hastings Green Party will again be taking part. The climate and nature emergency is real and urgent and we will continue to act locally and nationally.

Greens lead by example

Hastings Green Party is proud that one of our elected councillors made the journey to Westminster. We believe in turning up, speaking truth to power and pushing for joined up action. If Labour will not lead on climate and nature, we will.

The post Hastings Green Party Councillor Joins National Climate Action appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

Last night marked an historic milestone for Hastings Borough Council as we proudly elected our first Green Mayor of Hastings Borough Council, Councillor Becca Horn.

Becca’s appointment represents a powerful moment for our town, reflecting her dedication, passionate advocacy, and unwavering commitment to the people of Hastings. We are incredibly proud of Becca and all that she has achieved—both in the community and as a tireless champion for our borough. Becca said, “I’m truly honoured to become Hastings’ first ever Green Mayor… I love this town and I will undertake to do Hastings proud.”

CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP AND CHAIR ROLES

We are also pleased to announce the election of Councillor Glenn Haffenden as the new Leader of Hastings Borough Council, and Councillor Julia Hilton as Deputy Leader. Both bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to transparent, community-led leadership.

In addition, the following appointments were confirmed:

Councillor Yunis Smith as Chair of Planning

Councillor Amanda Jobson remains Chair of Licensing

Councillor Paula Warne as Vice Chair of the Regulatory Committee

Councillor Natalie Gaimster as Vice Chair of the Standards Committee

All Cabinet Members will retain their existing roles, ensuring continuity and stability as we move forward with our priorities for Hastings.

Natalie – Engagement, Equality and Opportunity

Mark – Strategic Planning and Climate Adaptation

Julia – Shaping Places and Local Government Reorganisation

Glenn – Housing, Community Wellbeing and Leisure Services

Jo – Environment and Neighbourhood Wellbeing

Darren – Finance, Risk and ICT

Tony – Chair of Charity Committee

This is a proud moment for all of us—thank you to our residents for your continued trust and support.

The post Historic Night for Hastings: First Green Mayor Elected appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

Hastings Green Group proposes to submit the following responses to the seven consultation questions: 

Question 1: To what extent do you agree or disagree that establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority over the proposed geography will deliver benefits to the area? 

Whilst Hastings Green Group broadly agree that the establishment of an MCCA has the potential to deliver benefits for the area, we have grave concerns about the process for establishing this new authority. We call for the whole process to prioritise democratic accountability, inclusivity, local oversight, and sustainability, ensuring that devolution is truly a transfer of power to communities, not just a reshuffling of centralised authority. 

The current proposals for the election of the Mayor themselves holds various barriers to democracy. The current cost of standing for metro mayoral elections in England is a £5,000 deposit plus £5,000 contribution for inclusion in a candidate booklet. This is twenty times higher than standing to be an MP and deters capable individuals from running for office. Reducing the financial barriers to standing for election would foster greater participation and diversity among candidates, strengthening democracy. Whilst discouraging frivolous candidates may be important, alternatives to a high financial bar, such as the 100 nominating electorate signatures already required for Police and Crime Commissioner elections, would ensure legitimacy of candidates without economic discrimination.

Furthermore, current spending limits for mayoral elections are excessively high, there are no caps on single donors and loopholes allow foreign interests to donate. Given the powerful strategic role a Mayor will play in place-shaping, transport and economic growth for Sussex, the potential for outsized influence over strategic decisions is a significant concern. Therefore, we call for lower campaign spending limits, a cap on single donations, a lower donor reporting threshold and mandating business donors to fully active UK companies only.

Finally, the electoral system for Mayor should not be First Past The Post. This system returns poor democratic engagement – for example, the most recent mayoral election saw a candidate elected on just a 27% turnout. Instead, we need to use the Alternative Vote system as advocated for by the Electoral Reform Society.

Question 2: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the proposed governance arrangements for the Mayoral Combined County Authority? 

Hastings Green Group strongly disagree with the current proposed governance arrangements for the MCCA. Firstly, in the interim arrangement, the role of district councils is diminished unless they are fully represented and as non-constituent members are given full-voting rights on any decision making. As it stands, “non-constituent members can be given voting rights at the discretion of the Combined County Authority”. We think this must be applied.  

Secondly, the proposed membership of the MCCA is too small, with only two members per unitary authority. This could result in a cabinet of just 6 across the whole of Sussex, once the new unitaries are established. Hastings Green Group call for the establishment of a ‘Sussex Assembly’, similar to the Greater London Assembly, as a proper body to hold this Mayor to account, with its own overview and scrutiny procedures. This Assembly should be elected by proportional representation such as Single Transferrable Vote.

Question 3: To what extent do you agree or disagree that working across the proposed geography through the Mayoral Combined County Authority will support the economy of the area? 

Hastings Green Group agree that strategic working across Sussex to integrate services such as transport, skills and education could greatly support the economy of some areas, however we are concerned that coastal areas such as Hastings may continue to be neglected and underfunded. We need confirmation from government as to how an MCCA would support the economy specifically in Hastings. We welcome the ambition to provide employment support and upskill local individuals to match employer needs in the area – this is desperately needed in Hastings. We need to see a clear plan for prioritising areas such as Hastings that are lagging behind in skills and education provision.

Question 4: To what extent do you agree or disagree that working across the proposed geography through the Mayoral Combined County Authority will improve social outcomes in the area? 

Hastings Green Group broadly agree that there is the potential to improve social outcomes in the area through the Integrated Care Partnership and that this could help strengthen the focus and increase the joined-up action to address issues around ill health and inequalities. We note that the consultation recognises this is particularly important for coastal communities. However, whilst the government’s white paper mentions “a new bespoke duty in relation to health improvement and health inequalities” to ensure MCCAs “have regard to the need to improve health…  and reduce health inequalities”, we think this duty is weak, and that the focus on addressing health inequalities must be clearly embedded within the Mayor’s required Local Growth Plan and Development Strategies. For example, the consultation mentions a key focus for the MCCA will be on addressing the housing crisis, which we know has direct impact on people’s health and wellbeing. However, it is not yet clear how this will be addressed, and it is critical that the wider determinants of health such as housing, education, skills, jobs, and social care are addressed holistically. 

Question 5: To what extent do you agree or disagree that working across the proposed geography through a Mayoral Combined County Authority will improve local government services in the area? 

Hastings Green Group understand that the additional devolved funding to the MCCA has the potential to redirect essential spend to support delivery of critical services. This will require substantial cooperative working between the MCCA and the current district councils firstly, then later the newly established unitary authorities, and we are concerned that the framework for these partnerships between local, place-based councils providing services and the new strategic authority has not yet been established as part of the plan. We refer to our response to Question 2 and our concerns around governance. 

Question 6: To what extent do you agree or disagree that working across the proposed geography through a Mayoral Combined County Authority will improve the local natural environment and overall national environment? 

Hastingss Green Group agree that establishing a MCCA presents a rare opportunity to secure integrated, coordinated and effective locally-led climate action across Sussex. However we are seriously concerned that, while the Government’s White Paper envisages Strategic Authorities having a local role in climate and nature action, there are no statutory duties to produce local climate and nature strategies alongside the proposed duties to produce a Local Growth Plan and a Spatial Development Strategy. Neither does it propose to include key climate and nature objectives in the new “accountability” and “outcomes” frameworks. These measures are essential to ensure delivery of the UK’s legally binding climate targets.

We therefore want to see the new MCCA adopt the six key recommendations to Government set out by the South East Climate Alliance, which include establishing statutory climate and nature duties for Strategic Authorities and embedding climate and nature outcomes in the proposed settlement framework. Furthermore, a commitment to providing  the necessary funding for Strategic Authorities to deliver on legally binding net zero targets must be made. We would like to see assurances that the establishment of a Local Power Plan and Warm Homes Plan would result in additional funding to the area to enact these plans.  

We would like to see a Climate Change Officers Committee established from representatives of the current district, boroughs and county council, with recommendations going to a political Climate Change Committee. We would also like to see the MCCA review and adopt the individual Climate Change Action Plans of the Constituent and Non-Constituent Members into a Sussex-wide Action Plan, to join together the similar actions of each council and, alongside additional funding support, pave the way for greater buying power and faster deployment of the actions. 

Question 7: To what extent do you agree or disagree that working across the proposed geography through the Mayoral Combined County Authority will support the interests and needs of local communities and reflect local identities? 

Hastings Green Group believe that changes must be made to the proposals in order to provide assurance that the interests, needs and identities of local communities will be supported. We strongly disagree with the proposed name for the MCCA as ‘Sussex and Brighton’, as this shows preferential treatment for Brighton over all other areas of Sussex. We think it should simply be named the ‘Sussex Combined County Authority’.

If our concerns outlined in the questions above are properly addressed, and the changes we’ve suggested are made to both the electoral process and the governance structure of the new MCCA, then we can envisage that a Sussex MCCA could be a powerful tool to move us further towards empowered local communities thriving in balance with the breath-taking green and blue spaces that Sussex residents cherish and enjoy.

Have your say: respond to the government’s consultation by 13th April here.

The post OUR RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNMENT’S MAYORAL COMBINED COUNTY AUTHORITY CONSULTATION FOR SUSSEX appeared first on Hastings Green Party.

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.

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.