The planning system is changing and we want you to be a part of shaping the future of Hastings and St Leonards.
Most people only get involved with the planning system when they want to make changes to their home, or when a planning application has been made which will affect a neighbouring property.
In fact, planning touches all our lives, and it is by getting involved in shaping planning policy that you can have the biggest influence on the future of your town.
As part of a Government drive to reform the planning system, the Council is working on a new kind of local plan, called the Local Development Framework (LDF).
The idea is for local people to have much more involvement in the planning system and the new, more flexible, approach will allow for this at every stage of plan-making. To get this underway a dedicated Community Involvement Officer, Mel Bonney-Kane, is now part of the Forward Planning team, which will co-ordinate preparation of the LDF.
The LDF will contain planning policies and guidance notes, but will also look at the wider issues of land use including the social, economic and environmental impacts. This new approach means local people will have a greater opportunity to influence policy making at the earliest stage.
"We want people to be proud of the town", said members of Hastings and St Leonards Seniors Forum in a Forward Planning workshop held at the Town Hall earlier this year.
The LDF will set out the "vision" for Hastings and St Leonards between now and the year 2021.
How can the Council make sure that development reflects the needs and aspirations of our vibrant and diverse communities and enables us to revitalise Hastings and St Leonards?
You have the answers. To make sure you get your voice heard on the future of the town the Forward Planning team is putting together a Statement of Community Involvement.
This document will show how the Council plans to consult with the community about the LDF.
From now until June a series of small focus groups will be run, to look at the content of the Statement of Community Involvement.
The process kicked off with an information day, at the Hastings Community Learning Centre, on March 7. at 10am.
Councillor Godfrey Daniel, portfolio holder for Forward Planning, said:
"This new way of planning provides an important opportunity for local people to get actively involved in creating planning policies which truly reflect the collective needs and aspirations of our town. I hope that all those with an interest in the future prosperity of Hastings and St Leonards will make a real contribution to meet this challenge"
To find out more or to register your interest in being involved at any stage of the process, please contact Forward Planning on 01424 783322 or email: fplanning@hastings.gov.uk
Youth groups, play groups and residents associations can all take advantage of a fantastic scheme, which funds coach transport for days out.
The Community Group Transport Grant Scheme, run by the Council, picks up the cost of coach travel for community groups, enabling them to make the most of away days without breaking the bank.
This scheme is open to all groups based in Hastings and St Leonards, but priority is given to youth and projects geared towards young families.
Jeremy Birch, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said:
"Hiring transport can be costly, especially with large numbers of people. We don’t want groups to miss out on the social side of being together, so I’d encourage anyone who runs a community group in our town to apply."
Applications are considered each month, for a form or more information telephone 01424 781360 or email: communityservices@hastings.gov.uk
Thinking of replacing the windows in your flat with UPVC ones? Or maybe you’re considering installing a satellite dish? Well, before you go-ahead, read on - you could need planning permission...
Unscrupulous salesmen have been selling replacement windows and satellite dishes to unsuspecting customers and telling them planning permission is not required. However, if you live in a flat, in a listed building, in a conservation area or own commercial premises and are considering replacing your windows, you will need to apply for planning permission. The same goes if you are thinking of installing a satellite dish.
To find out if you need permission, visit Planning section where you’ll find lots of information regarding all aspects of planning permission, including a Question and Answer section which can help you work out if you’ll need to make an application for a satellite dish. If you don’t have access to the internet, give the planning department a ring on 01424 783300 for further information.
Hastings and Rother’s largest business-to-business networking exhibition, Let’s Do Business, will take place for a third consecutive year, following the news that Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and BT Local Business have committed to being key sponsors for this year’s event.
Jonathan Dolding, business broker for Hastings and St Leonards and co-organiser of Let’s Do Business together with St Leonards-based Style Promotions, said:
"It’s great to secure the future of the event and the support and commitment from both Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and a brand name such as BT is a very welcome step."
Lanre Madarikan, managing director of BT Local Business covering East Sussex, which provides BT products and solutions for businesses across the county, said:
"As an exhibitor last year we were taken with the quality of the event and believe that stepping up to be a key sponsor will be a fantastic opportunity for us both to raise our profile and to do business with a significant number of companies across the Hastings and Rother area."
The 2004 event, with 89 exhibitors and more than 600 people through the doors on the day, was highly rated by businesses and visitors alike. Councillor Jeremy Birch, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said:
"Let’s Do Business was an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their activity and gave them a chance to find local suppliers and customers which all helps to keep resources within the town. It showed me just how much initiative and drive we already have in our local economy."
The exhibition, which aims to boost the town’s economy through the promotion of local procurement, will be held at The Hastings Centre on Thursday, November 10. Exhibition stands will go on general release on Tuesday, May 3. To register your interest, please call Dale Seymour at Style Promotions on 01424 423123.
The justice system relies on ordinary people from all walks of life to perform the vital role of a magistrate. It is responsible, interesting and challenging work.
Hastings Magistrates Court is now combined with Eastbourne and serves an area stretching from Rye to Seaford.
Magistrates deal with a complete cross section of cases from traffic offences to more serious crimes such as theft, fraud and assault.
Hastings is a very busy court and we are always looking for more magistrates, representative of the whole community.
Applicants require a wide experience of life. No legal knowledge or formal qualifications are needed and training
is provided. They must be of good character, have an understanding of local issues and be able to sit a minimum of 26 half days per year. Applications are welcome from professional and non-professional men and women aged 18 years or older and from any ethnic background. All magistrates retire at 70.
The work is voluntary, but travel and subsistence expenses are paid. Many employers are willing to give time off for magistrates’ duties. We want magistrates to come from right across the social spectrum and to reflect the community in which they live.
The Advisory Committee is the body responsible for recruitment and interviewing prospective magistrates. It makes its recommendations to the Lord Chancellor.
John Smith, chairman of the sub-committee for this area, has served as a magistrate for nearly 23 years.
He said:
"I am a full time member of the teaching profession and fit in my work in the courts around classroom duties. It does make for an extremely busy life at times but the work is very rewarding."
To find out more, contact Tony Feek on 01273 481579, or e-mail tony.feek@eastsussex.gov.uk
After months of hard work the Hastings Local Plan, adopted in April 2004, is now available to buy.
The document is a blueprint of policies and use/development of land in the borough up to 2011.
Copies of the Local Plan cost £30 and can be obtained from the address below. If you want a copy sent to you, send a cheque for £30, plus £5 for postage, to the Planning offices:
Regeneration and Planning Directorate, Century House, 100 Menzies Road, St Leonards on Sea, TN38 9BB or from the
Hastings Information Centre at the Town Hall, Hastings, TN34 1TL.
Alternatively, the document can be viewed on by visiting the Local Plan pages on this site or through the Planning Portal. The Planning Portal also enables you to view the Proposals Maps online and can be found at www.planningportal.gov.uk.
For more information on the plan contact the Forward Planning team on 01424 783319 or email: fplanning@hastings.gov.uk
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This page last updated: 04/04/2005