Have your say on local government reorganisation in Hastings

Welcome to Hastings Borough Council’s survey on local government reorganisation.   

Before completing the short survey please take a moment to read the following: 

What’s the background to this Reorganisation?

Central government announced their plans to reorganise local government in a White Paper in December 2024. They gave us this guidance and wanted an initial response from us for how this could be done in East Sussex by 22 March. We submitted a letter expressing how rushed the process felt.  

While most councils across East Sussex have agreed that the government’s guidance points towards a new single council based on the East Sussex area, all agreed that we needed to seek residents’ views on this major change in local democratic representation. In Hastings it was agreed to seek residents’ views on three options.

Alongside the Hastings-specific engagement, there is also an East Sussex survey which you can complete as well as the Hastings one. This is launching from Monday 12 May.

The three options put forward by Hastings’ councillors were discussed fully at a Full Council meeting. Here is a quick summary of the options with some of the pros and cons that have been identified so far: 

Option 1 - Single council across East Sussex

This option is for one single council across the whole of East Sussex responsible for delivering all council services to a population of around 500,000. The five district and boroughs and the county council would be dissolved, and all services would be delivered by one new council.

Creating a single council for East Sussex has several potential advantages and disadvantages. Here's a summary:

Pros:

Streamlined Services: One front door for all services making it simpler for residents to report issues and get the help they need.  

Cost Savings: A single council could potentially save costs by reducing administrative overheads.

Unified Voice: A single council across a larger area could be more attractive to investors  and make it easier to tackle larger issues such as providing council-owned social housing and taking action on climate change.

Improved Coordination: Opportunity to provide people with a single point of contact when they have multiple requirements instead of dealing with many different people in the current structures for Housing, Adult Social Care and Health.

Cons:

Democratic deficit: There is no guarantee that we would be able to secure a continued physical council presence in Hastings. People may  feel more distanced from a county-wide single council rather than the current Hastings-based borough council, and feel that they have less influence over decision- making on issues that will impact Hastings.

Loss of Local Focus: Hastings is a very distinct place with unique assets and opportunities as well as particular needs. There is a danger that local issues will be overlooked in a larger council.  

Potential Inefficiencies: Larger organisations can sometimes become less responsive and efficient

Option 2 - Smaller Coastal council

Option 2 is for Hastings to be part of a coastal council made up of similar coastal areas across the south of East Sussex including Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne which would deliver all council services to these populations.  

Here are some potential pros and cons on splitting East Sussex into coastal and rural regions:  

Pros: 

Coastal areas have similar issues so a coastal unitary might be able to simplify provision of services but still be able to address the specific needs of coastal communities like Hastings and Eastbourne. 

Local Representation: A smaller coastal council could mean that residents have a closer connection to the new council than Option 1, and more confidence that it will focus on specific regional issues. 

Economic Development: Each region could pursue economic development strategies for their unique strengths, such as coastal tourism or rural agriculture.

Cons: 

Democratic Deficit: There is no guarantee that Hastings would be selected to host the new council over the other seaside towns, therefore people may feel more distanced from their council representatives. 

Administrative Complexity: Managing two separate regions could increase administrative complexity and costs particularly around breaking up services like Adult Social Care and Children’s Services and splitting up existing district and borough boundaries. 

Economic viability: Council tax and business rates income are lower in the coastal regions so core funding would be less unless government commit to fair funding to address the greater levels of deprivation in coastal areas.  

Option 3 – District and Borough model  

Option 3 is to retain Hastings Borough Council and the four other district and borough councils, abolish East Sussex County Council and its councillors, producing financial savings and ensuring direct democratic accountability to residents.

Each council will regain the powers and money to deliver services such as education, highways, and social care. Where services would be best delivered as a shared service between councils, such as rubbish collection is currently, a Board of the five District Councils would be set up to direct and oversee the running of these services.

Pros:

Enhanced Collaboration: District and Borough models promote collaboration between different councils, allowing them to share resources, expertise, and data effectively.

Local Autonomy: Each council retains autonomy, enabling them to address local issues more effectively and tailor solutions to their specific needs.

Improved Decision-Making: Access to real-time data and diverse perspectives can lead to more informed and agile decision-making.

Specialisation: Councils can specialise in certain areas, using their strengths and expertise to benefit the broader federation. 

Cons:

Complexity: Implementing and managing a District and Borough model will require robust coordination and communication mechanisms. Robust democratic oversight across all five councils would be essential to successful working, especially around services that support vulnerable children and adults.

Higher Costs: This would be a major restructure of how existing county wide services are delivered which could be very costly.

Conflicting Motivations: Different councils may have conflicting goals and political priorities, which can hinder unified action and efficiency. 

A Town Council for Hastings and St Leonards  

We would like to hear your views on whether Hastings and St Leonards should also have a Town Council. A Town Council is a type of local council. It operates at a level below district and borough councils and can have responsibility for local issues such as providing allotments, public clocks, bus shelters, community centres, play areas, and grants to local organisations. Town councils are elected bodies and can also issue fixed penalty fines for minor offenses like littering and graffiti.  

Pros: 

Local Representation: Town councils ensure that local issues and concerns are addressed by representatives who live in the community and understand its unique needs. It would also allow Hastings to continue to have its own civic mayor. 

Community Engagement: They can increase community involvement and participation in local governance, fostering a sense of ownership and pride among residents. 

Responsive Decision-Making: Decisions can be made more quickly and tailored to the specific needs of the town, rather than being delayed by higher levels of government. 

Volunteerism: Many town councillors serve on a voluntary basis, which can reduce costs associated with governance. 

Maintaining Hastings’ unique status and identity.  Hastings has a historic entitlement to ‘govern its own affairs’ through a royal charter.  A Hastings Town Council is therefore key to ensuring the continuation of this entitlement and maintaining Hastings’ unique status and identity. 

Cons: 

Cost: Even though councillors are volunteers, there are still costs associated with running a council, such as salaries for clerks and administrative staff. This would mean having an extra cost added to your council tax.  

Additional Bureaucracy: Establishing a town council can add another layer of government, potentially leading to increased bureaucracy and administrative costs. 

Limited Resources: town councils may have limited financial and human resources, which can restrict their ability to implement large-scale projects. 

Limitations of Representation: If Town Councillors are forced to serve voluntarily, this will limit the pool of people who feel financially able to put themselves forward to serve, and risks appealing to a more limited demographic, such as retirees or those who are more financially comfortable. 

Have your say

Please complete our simple, anonymous online survey to have your say by Monday 30 June. If you would like a paper copy please ask at the Community Contact Centre at Muriel Matters House.