Have your say on council budget and corporate plan

Residents and anyone who works in the town are invited to have their say on Hastings Borough Council's budget proposals for 2023-24 and updates to the corporate plan.

The draft budget shows how the cost of temporary accommodation continues to rise dramatically. Reducing the cost of temporary accommodation is the council's top priority for 2023-24.

The corporate plan update for 2023-24 reflects the council's overall financial situation. The updates focus on tackling the housing crisis and the climate emergency.

Cllr Paul Barnett, Leader of the Council, said: "Our top priority for the coming year is to tackle the housing crisis we have in our town. We know that making sure our residents have safe and secure homes can start to address many of the inequalities there are within Hastings.

"Where finance allows, we will continue to work on other parts of our corporate plan which we are also asking for your opinions on. We want to hear from you whether you live in Hastings or work here so please have a look at the documents on our website and send us your comments by noon on Friday 3 February. We will also be talking to several organisations within the town about these proposals and if you would like us to come and talk to your organisation, please get in touch."

Cllr Simon Willis, lead councillor for finance, said: "This has been a very difficult budget to put together with our finance team. The ever-increasing costs of housing with decreasing national funding mean we are having to make some difficult decisions to help us balance the budget.

"Alongside the hard work we are doing internally we will also continue to lobby the government for the funding we need to deliver our services and to provide what our residents need in these difficult financial times."

The proposed budget includes raising the Hastings element of council tax by the maximum amount allowed by the government: 2.99%. This would mean an increase of 16p a week for a band D property, a total of £8.42 a year.

The updated plan and budget are available to view and download at the council website. Please read the documents and then send comments to consultation@hastings.gov.uk  Please make sure you have responded by noon on Friday 3 February. Comments will be summarised in the budget meeting reports, along with those from community groups and organisations.

The budget will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting at 6pm on Monday 6 February. There will then be a Full Council meeting on Wednesday 15 February to agree the final reports. Both meetings will be available to watch online on the council's website.