Your feedback on Local Government Reorganisation

We have been asking you for your thoughts on three proposed options for how a future council could look in Hastings. We had 810 responses to our survey, and spoke to another 100 people across face-to-face sessions and drop-ins. 

Of the responses to the three potential options, 286 favoured the single council across East Sussex; 169 favoured the smaller coastal council; 301 favoured the district and borough model; 32 favoured none; 12 didn’t know/had no opinion; 10 favoured other. 

When asked about a Town Council for Hastings, 377 said they wanted a Town Council; 245 did not want a Town Council and 179 were neither for nor against. 

The responses to the survey have been shared with the councillors and officers working on the council’s response to the government. They will be used alongside the financial analysis being done by an independent team as part of work to build the business case. Conversations also continue between the other districts and boroughs and the county council as the process continues, and the responses of the East Sussex wide survey are analysed. It is important to note that whichever option is taken forward, East Sussex County Council, plus the five district and borough councils will all be abolished and replaced with a new council/s. 

Cllr Julia Hilton, deputy leader of the council and lead councillor for shaping place and local government reorganisation, said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey, talk to us at our face-to-face events, and those who came along to the sessions with Hastings Assembles. We are working hard behind the scenes on the business case and financial analysis and continuing conversations across the county. We must send our final response to the government by 25 September. We are still finalising the dates for formal council meetings where councillors will be discussing our response, and the public will be able to attend and ask questions.” 

The survey also asked about which services are important to people in terms of those delivered by Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council. 

The two issues that came up the most in responses about East Sussex County Council services were roads/pavements and education. For Hastings Borough Council services, the most mentions were around waste and recycling, with parks and countryside second. 

People who were in favour of the single unitary said it would be best for financial reasons, including economies of scale and savings. Those in favour of the coastal unitary said they were supportive of linking areas with similar requirements. Local knowledge was important to those in favour of the district and borough model.  

Feedback from two workshop sessions, attended by around 50 people and hosted by Hastings Assembles showed concern about the speed of the process, Hastings being swallowed up by a larger authority and a lack of accountability in any new authority. Losing Hastings’ unique identity was mentioned by many. There were also concerns about the finances around any new council, with uncertainty around savings and efficiencies. There were alternatives suggested, with local representation and the chance to start again as positives, and the importance of Hastings having more control.  

Cllr Hilton added: “The government have made it very clear that whatever model is adopted, local involvement and decision making will be critically important. They are keen to see more Area Committees feeding into the decision-making process to ensure that local needs are met. The government needs to give us more guidance and reassurance about the role and power of these area committees if they are not to be another talking shop.”  

Alongside the surveys, the government has made it clear that councils have to demonstrate the financial sustainability of any new council. Work on this is on-going and will form an important part of the business case for any of the options. 

Notes for editors:

Hastings Assembles have provided the following summary of responses that were given at the two workshop sessions for public:

Overall Sentiment:

• Scepticism and Opposition: The dominant feeling is one of concern, suspicion, and often strong opposition to the proposed changes. Many feel the process is being rushed, imposed by the government with insufficient information and public consultation, and is fundamentally an "attack on democracy."
• Fear for Hastings: A major fear is that Hastings will be "swallowed up," lose its unique voice, local control, and resources in any larger, more centralized structure.
• Lack of Accountability and Information: Participants are concerned about a lack of accountability in the new structures, particularly with a powerful regional Mayor, and feel they haven't been given enough information to make informed decisions.
• "Big is Bad, Small is Good": There's a strong preference for localized control, smaller decision-making bodies, and direct access to local representatives.

Key Concerns/Bad Points Across All Options:

• Diminished Local Democracy and Representation: Fewer councillors, less local knowledge, loss of personal contact, and a feeling that decisions will be made by a remote authority.
• Loss of Local Control and Voice: Hastings' specific needs and uniqueness may be ignored or overlooked in larger units.
• Lack of Resources and Funding: Concerns that changes are driven by funding cuts, and that money saved won't benefit local areas, especially Hastings.
• Mayor's Power: Significant apprehension about a powerful, potentially unaccountable regional Mayor (Mayor of Sussex) having too much control, making decisions without local knowledge, and potentially taking over key services like planning and health.
• Bureaucracy and Inefficiency: Some options are seen as too complex (e.g., federated model), potentially leading to confusion and top-heavy organizations.
• Cancellation of Elections: Outrage at the potential cancellation of local elections, seen as a direct assault on democracy.

Specific Points on Each Option:

• Option 1 (Unitary Authority): 
  Good: Potentially more Hastings councillors on the unitary authority (compared to ESCC), joined-up thinking, increased buying power.
  Bad: HBC disappears, significant loss of local voice and knowledge, no certainty the unitary authority will prioritize Hastings, different needs of rural/coastal areas versus large cities, low election turnout due to remoteness.
• Option 2 (Coastal and Rural Authorities): 
  Good: Similar territories (coastal towns) may have similar needs.
  Bad: "Coastal ghetto" where money is held inland, geographically too long, demographics of coastal towns are distinct (not as similar as assumed), doesn't include Brighton's resources.
• Option 3 (Federal Councils): 
  Good: Freedom and autonomy for each area, better understanding of local needs, more localized knowledge and employment, potentially higher election turnout.
  Bad: Recipe for confusion, lack of county-wide coverage, less financially efficient/top-heavy, questions about accountability of the overseeing board. This option is also perceived as the central government's preferred outcome.

Proposed Alternatives/Good Points (from a local perspective):

• Focus on Local Voice and More Councillors: Anything that strengthens local representation and yields more local councillors is positive. Or having fewer local Councillors might mean they get paid more so be more effective.
• Getting Rid of County Council: Seen by most as a good thing, potentially freeing up money for Hastings .
• Opportunity to Start Fresh: Some see it as a chance to scrap existing councils and create more diverse representation, potentially allowing for independent councillors.
• Hastings in Control: Strong desire for Hastings to be a single unitary authority, or at least have greater autonomy and a stronger voice to spend money locally.
• More Efficient/Cohesive: Some believe a less fragmented system, with everything "under one roof," could be more cohesive and efficient, potentially retaining good officers.

In essence, the discussions reveal deep-seated anxieties about the erosion of local control and democratic accountability in the face of imposed government reforms, with a strong desire to protect Hastings' unique identity and ensure its residents' voices are heard.