Observer column 19 January 2024

This is Cllr Julia Hilton's first column as Leader of the Council:

In my last column as Green group leader I wrote about how the current political uncertainty at the council could be solved if all parties came together to form an interim unity cabinet to give stability to the council until the elections in May.

Yesterday evening, after almost five weeks of political uncertainty and instability for the council and  lengthy discussions between all political groups, a special council meeting agreed that I would lead a an interim administration made up of councillors from the Green and the Hastings Independent Groups. I know that the previous leader, Paul Barnett, who now leads the Hastings Independents, also supports this approach, and thank him for his support in enabling a smooth transition to this new collaborative administration.

I had hoped that a unity cabinet could have been formed with representation from all four groups including Labour and Conservative but that has not proved possible. Greens have long called for a move to a more democratic and transparent committee system and we are intending to use the current structures as best we can to enable us to move to something close to that, where all councillors can have a voice in decision making. With four political groups as well as individual independents now sitting on the council, it's essential that we find ways to move towards a more inclusive and consensual decision making process. I hope that this short period before the May local elections can be a start to making that change and I look forward to working with all councillors to develop that new political culture. My focus for the months to the elections in May will be on securing the financial future of the council and working on the ambitious plans to tackle the housing crisis.

Residents want to see their councillors working together in the running of our council for the good of the town. Our priority as a councillor body must be to ensure the council can survive and thrive, emerging from the latest set of financial challenges even leaner but nimble and agile to work with partners and create a thriving and flourishing future for the town and its residents.

One of the first stages in that flourishing future is developing the exciting plans to rejuvenate and transform our town centre. There will also be a chance to find out about progress on all the Town Deal funded projects. I look forward to meeting residents and hearing their thoughts on the outline proposals that will be on view at Priory Meadow shopping centre on Saturday 27 January from 10am - 4pm.