FOI request (FOIR-830175024)

Council Tax

Requested Tue 21 April 2026
Responded Wed 24 June 2026

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Response

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding. 

The Context: A 54% Rise. Declining Services. No Accountability.

Since 2016, Council Tax in this area has risen by approximately 54%. The proposed further increase of 4.95% compounds an already unsustainable burden on residents who are simultaneously navigating a cost of living crisis affecting food, fuel, energy, and housing.

What have residents received in return? Roads in disrepair. Reduced bin collections. Closed amenities. Restricted recycling access. The gap between what residents are asked to pay and what they visibly receive is no longer a matter of perception. It is a matter of public record, and it demands a public answer.

Meanwhile, credible concerns have been raised about council spending priorities including capital expenditure on council buildings, reliance on high-cost recruitment consultants, a growing number of six-figure salary roles, and expenditure on events, hospitality, and councillor provisions. These concerns are not fringe complaints. They represent a systemic pattern observed across local authorities nationally, and residents deserve to know whether this council is implicated.

I am therefore formally requesting full disclosure of the following:

Section 1: Full Expenditure Breakdown

A complete, itemised breakdown of all Council Tax expenditure for the most recent complete financial year, including departmental allocations and all spending categories.

Answer: Please refer to information provided through your council tax bill which shows how your council bill tax gets breakdown and for any more info related to expenditure please refer to budget reports which are online in our website; https://www.hastings.gov.uk/my-council/transparency/budgets/ . The budget includes an increase of 2.99% for Hastings elements of council tax.

Section 2: Specific Areas of Concern

Detailed figures relating to:

All expenditure on council buildings, including headquarters, refurbishments, and capital projects, with total costs and justifications.

Answer: Expenditure on Buildings: Total £4,324,987.18, this includes Repairs, Maintenance, Utilities, Insurance, Rates, Cleaning, Refuse Collection and Security. This figure also includes £3,035,299.67 from the Housing Acquisitions Programme for purchases of property. Buildings included in this figure are: Muriel Matters House, Town Hall, Waste Depot, Museum, Crematorium, Sports Centres, Public Conveniences, Chalets, Estates Rental portfolio, Housing Rental portfolio and St Mary in the Castle. 

Total spending on external recruitment consultants and agencies, with a breakdown by contract or supplier where possible

Answer: Recruitment Consultant and Agencies: Total £959,413.35 for agency workers, £23,810.50 for recruitment costs. 

The number of employees earning £100,000 or more, their job titles, and the total salary cost of these roles to the public purse.

Answer: Deputy Chief Executive, £102,022 salary plus additional cost of £35,558.54 for employer National insurance and pension contributions.

All expenditure on events, hospitality, catering, food, drink, and provisions for councillors and officers, itemised by occasion or category.

Answer: Total £5,408.53, Hastings Borough Council does not hold the information in regards to which events.

Section 3: Core Public Service Expenditure

A clear breakdown of spending on services that directly affect residents:

Road maintenance and pothole repair, including the number of reported defects versus repairs completed.

Answer: Information not held, all aspects of roads and footpaths is the responsibility of East Sussex County Council, please visit their website for further information: www.eastsussex.gov.uk

Waste collection, including any changes to collection frequency in the past two financial years and any associated cost savings.

Answer:  £3,683,000.27. No changes in frequency 

Maintenance, investment in, or closure of public parks and play areas.

Answer:  £1,633,058.90 maintenance costs. No play areas closed no investment costs

Recycling centre operations, including any reductions in opening hours or accessibility.

Answer: Information not held – the recycling centre (tip) is the responsibility of East Sussex County Council, please visit their website for further information: www.eastsussex.gov.uk

Section 4: Cost-Saving Measures

Full details of any cost-saving measures implemented by the council in the two financial years prior to the decision to increase Council Tax, including what savings were achieved and how they were reinvested into front-line services.

Answer: Please find attached Appendix K regarding savings. We do not hold information regarding to how these saving are reinvested. 

Section 5: Justification for the Proposed Increase

Copies of, or direct access to, any internal reports, financial assessments, impact analyses, or documented justifications used to support the proposed Council Tax increase, including projected outcomes for residents and any performance metrics or service improvement targets attached to this increase.

Answer: Please see attached the following links as they show the decision making process: https://hastings.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=5595  - Budget Cabinet agenda; https://hastings.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=168&MId=5596  - Budget Full Council agenda; https://www.hastings.gov.uk/my-council/cm/?v=5034324 - Budget Cabinet meeting video

https://www.hastings.gov.uk/my-council/cm/?v=5034342  - Budget Full Council meeting video