The Hastings Borough Council Cabinet met on 24 September 2025 and agreed to submit three proposals for local government reorganisation (LGR) to the Minister of State for Local Government. While endorsing the One East Sussex unitary proposal, the Cabinet decided to also submit the Federated District & Borough Model and the Coastal Unitary Model, accompanied by a covering letter from the Leader of the Council. The Chief Executive was delegated authority, in consultation with the Leader and Lead Member, to finalise any amendments before submission.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Cabinet considered a report on the creation of a new unitary council structure, as part of the government's Devolution White Paper. The government requires areas like East Sussex and Brighton to propose replacing the current two-tier system of local government with a single unitary tier. The deadline for submissions is 26 September 2025, with a decision expected in 2026.

The Cabinet was asked to consider comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, approve the submission to the government, delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and Lead Member to finalise any amendments, and approve the submission of a covering letter from the Leader to accompany the proposals.

Councillor Tony Collins, Charity Committee Chair, noted the extremely short schedule for the LGR process and its potential impact on the Foreshore Trust and its future governance. Officers are considering how to ensure continuity for the Foreshore Trust during the transition to a new local authority.

Councillor Julia Hilton, Deputy Leader of the Council, welcomed local collaboration in Hastings but stressed the need to engage with colleagues across East Sussex councils, where support leans toward the One East Sussex model. Councillor Hilton acknowledged financial risks with each of the proposed models, but stressed the need to ensure a sustainable future for Hastings, and that the 'One East Sussex' model is where other Councils are willing to work together.

Councillor Glenn Haffenden, Leader of the Council and Housing, Community Wellbeing and Leisure Services Portfolio Holder, thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their input and officers for their support.

The Cabinet unanimously agreed to:

1. Endorse support for the One East Sussex unitary proposal but submit all three proposals with a covering letter that will:
   • Emphasise that this is a central government-imposed initiative to which Hastings along with other authorities are responding, where their widespread concerns highlighted the pace at which this had been requested and is expected to be delivered with no additional resources.
   • Make the point that Hastings has considered other options as was set out in our original covering letter alongside submission in March. Therefore, we would request that the minister also considers these alternative options.
   • Highlight Hastings' consultation results, showing that fifteen more people expressed a local preference for federated governance over the single East Sussex unitary option, with a minority support for the coastal option.
   • Stress that all three models carry benefits and risks, and none are viable without reform of local government finance.
   • Assert that any decision must recognise Hastings' historical, social, economic and geographic circumstances.
   • Underscore that Hastings seeks a solution that strengthens local democracy and protects services for vulnerable residents.
2. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Lead Member, to finalise amendments before submission.
3. Approve submission of a covering letter from the Leader of the Council alongside the proposals.

The reasons given for the recommendations were that the government has requested that all councils included in the Devolution Priority Programme submit their proposal for a single tier of local government for their area by 26 September 2025.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 1 September 2025 were approved as a true record.