What the councils said they'd do
What Hastings' councils said they would do, in their plans' own words, beside what their latest papers say about it.
Hastings Borough Council Corporate Plan 2025–2030
“The Council’s corporate plan identifies tackling the housing crisis as the top priority.”
Cabinet minutes, 1 September 2025
“The 2026/27 Budget included significant reductions in the Capital Programme to help the Council address its financial deficit including agreeing to asset sales, with the primary focus being on financial stability and addressing the housing crisis.”
Minutes Public Pack, 08/06/2026 CabinetHastings Borough Council · Cabinet, Mon 7 Sep 2026The paper, page 41 ↗
“The 2025/26 Budget included significant reductions in the Capital Programme to help the Council address its financial deficit including agreeing to asset sales, with the primary focus being on financial stability and addressing the housing crisis.”
Minutes Public Pack, 05/03/2026 Audit CommitteeHastings Borough Council · Audit Committee, Thu 2 Jul 2026The paper ↗
“It is therefore imperative that the council manages and plans its use of capital resources wisely and why one of the stated corporate objectives is to develop a full and detailed Corporate Asset Management Plan which will feed into future capital strategies, along with a Housing Strategy to deal with the Housing crisis that the Council finds itself in currently.”
Draft Capital Strategy 2026-2725-02-2026Hastings Borough Council · Cabinet, Mon 8 Jun 2026The paper, page 5 ↗
“A financially stable council that delivers high-quality, responsive services in co-operation with local people.”
Corporate Plan update 2026-27
“Subject to final market conditions and affordability assessments, the proposal would strengthen the Council's financial resilience, reduce long-term debt commitments and improve the financial position transferred to the successor authority ahead of Local Government Reorganisation in 2028.”
1. Treasury Management Update 2026-27 Q1Hastings Borough Council · Full Council, Wed 23 Sep 2026The paper, page 9 ↗
“The Committee was advised that the Plan placed a strong emphasis on financial resilience and income generation through diversification of funding streams, increased fundraising capacity and greater use of existing community expertise.”
Printed minutesHastings Borough Council · Museum Committee, Mon 14 Sep 2026The paper, page 7 ↗
“Furthermore, the front-loaded nature of the savings means that a significant proportion of the financial benefit would be realised during 2026/27 and 2027/28, directly strengthening the Council's financial resilience during the transition period leading up to local government reorganisation.”
1. Treasury Management Update 2026-27 Q1Hastings Borough Council · Audit Committee, Thu 10 Sep 2026The paper, page 66 ↗
Hastings Housing Strategy 2025–2030 and its Year 1 action plan
“The community hubs proposed in the housing strategy action plan will aim to take services out into the community rather than waiting for residents to arrive at the council offices at crisis point.”
Cabinet minutes, 1 December 2025
“In response to a question from Councillor Hilton the Head of Housing explained that the community hubs proposed in the housing strategy action plan will aim to take services out into the community rather than waiting for residents to arrive at the council offices at crisis point.”
Minutes Public Pack, 01/12/2025 CabinetHastings Borough Council · Cabinet, Mon 5 Jan 2026The paper ↗
“Introduced action to lobby on Rent Caps and Rent limits.”
Housing Strategy final draft, December 2025
“What will we influence others to do? a) We will lobby for the earliest possible implementation of the Renters Rights Act 2025 which received Royal Assent on 27th October 2025. b) We will lobby for the introduction of Local Authority powers to implement rent capping or rent limits in the private rented sector.”
Housing Strategy Final Draft n1Hastings Borough Council · Cabinet, Mon 1 Dec 2025The paper ↗
“Develop a county-wide strategy to bring long-term empty properties back into use.”
East Sussex Housing Partnership Year 1 mobilisation plan, adopted with the Housing Strategy
“Housing Delivery: Meeting government housing targets will require creative solutions, higher density development, and bringing empty homes back into use.”
Appendix 1 Draft Local Plan - Pre Submission (Regulation 19) September 2026Hastings Borough Council · Full Council, Wed 23 Sep 2026The paper, page 72 ↗
“The policy approach set out here supports and complements the council’s Housing Strategy which also includes council-led projects relating to the acquisition and return of empty homes back into residential use, or the conversion of other premises for residential use.”
Appendix 1- Plan V19.2.4 Cabinet Issue with Annex 1Hastings Borough Council · Cabinet, Mon 7 Sep 2026The paper, page 150 ↗
“Ambitions to expand housing supply further through innovative partnerships and the continued implementation of the Council's Housing Strategy were outlined together with the importance of bringing empty homes back into use and continuing to hold social housing providers to account.”
Minutes Public Pack, 20/05/2026 Full CouncilHastings Borough Council · Full Council, Wed 15 Jul 2026The paper, page 55 ↗
East Sussex County Council Plan
“Driving sustainable economic growth.”
one of the Council Plan's four priority outcomes
“Progress against Council Priorities Driving sustainable economic growth 4.1 240 Industry Champions were supporting schools and colleges with activities such as career talks and Open Doors workplace visits, at the end of quarter 1, above the target of 220.”
Council Monitoring Report - Q1 2026/27East Sussex County Council · Cabinet, Tue 29 Sep 2026The paper, page 20 ↗
“The contract was outcomes-based, centred around quality assurance, stakeholder management, sustainable economic growth and carbon management.”
Minutes of the previous meetingEast Sussex County Council · Place Scrutiny Committee, Wed 23 Sep 2026The paper, page 24 ↗
“Progress against Council Priorities Driving sustainable economic growth 2.1 The Council has spent £423m with local suppliers over the past 12 months (63% of our total procurement spend, exceeding the 60% target).”
Council Monitoring Report - end of year 2025/26East Sussex County Council · Cabinet, Tue 30 Jun 2026The paper, page 8 ↗
“Keeping vulnerable people safe.”
one of the Council Plan's four priority outcomes
“Keeping vulnerable people safe 4.5 At the end of quarter 1,513 children were subject to a Child Protection Plan, representing a rate of 50.0 per 10,000 children.”
Council Monitoring Report - Q1 2026/27East Sussex County Council · Cabinet, Tue 29 Sep 2026The paper, page 21 ↗
“Keeping vulnerable people safe 2.6 There has been a reduction of the number of children on a Child Protection Plan during 2025/26 to 49.9 per 10,000 children (521 children), compared to 59.3 (614 children) at the end of 2024/25.”
Council Monitoring Report - end of year 2025/26East Sussex County Council · Cabinet, Tue 30 Jun 2026The paper, page 9 ↗
“Keeping vulnerable people safe 1.22 The number of children with a Child Protection Plan has increased to 571 at the end of quarter 3, up from 532 at the end of quarter 2.”
Report of the CabinetEast Sussex County Council · Full Council, Tue 24 Mar 2026The paper, page 36 ↗
“Helping people help themselves.”
one of the Council Plan's four priority outcomes
“Helping people help themselves 4.9 The ‘National outcome measure: Achieve independence for older people through rehabilitation / intermediate care’ is reported a quarter in arrears.”
Council Monitoring Report - Q1 2026/27East Sussex County Council · Cabinet, Tue 29 Sep 2026The paper, page 23 ↗
“Helping people help themselves 2.11 15 road safety infrastructure schemes were delivered during Q4, with 24 schemes in total delivered in 2025/26, meeting the target for the year.”
Council Monitoring Report - end of year 2025/26East Sussex County Council · Cabinet, Tue 30 Jun 2026The paper, page 10 ↗
“Helping people help themselves 1.26 There continues to be challenges around the timeliness of issuing new Education, Health and Care Plans caused by late statutory advice from partners and increasingly high demand.”
Report of the CabinetEast Sussex County Council · Full Council, Tue 24 Mar 2026The paper, page 40 ↗
“Making best use of resources now and for the future.”
one of the Council Plan's four priority outcomes
“Making best use of resources now and for the future is the gateway priority through which any activity and accompanying resources must pass.”
Appendix 3 - Priority and delivery outcomes Cabinet 29.09.26East Sussex County Council · Cabinet, Tue 29 Sep 2026The paper ↗
“Making best use of resources now and for the future 4.12 Based on sickness absence trends seen in the first quarter of this year we are currently forecasting that the average rate of sickness absence will be 9.77 days per FTE, above the target of 9.10 days per FTE.”
Council Monitoring Report - Q1 2026/27East Sussex County Council · Cabinet, Tue 29 Sep 2026The paper, page 24 ↗
“ASF provision will address this issue, contributing to the objectives laid out within the East Sussex Economic Prosperity Strategy 2024-2050 and support the County Council’s core priority outcomes (i) driving sustainable economic growth; (ii) keeping vulnerable people safe; (iii) helping people to help themselves; and (iv) making best use of resources now and for the future.”
Adult Skills Fund: 2026/27 Grant allocation and delivery ArrangementsEast Sussex County Council · Lead Member for Economy, Tue 17 Mar 2026The paper, page 16 ↗
Hastings Town Deal (Towns Fund)
“Hastings Castle and West Hill Café Project.”
Cabinet, 2 March 2026
“Currently no dogs are allowed at all on the site but Troika Projects, the local consortium that has been appointed to run and redevelop parts of the Hastings Castle and West Hill site has asked if dogs could be allowed on to the Castle site if on a lead at all times.”
HBC Report DC PSPO Review Sept 26 Cabinet reportHastings Borough Council · Cabinet, Mon 7 Sep 2026The paper, page 28 ↗
“Will Larkin, Principal Planning Officer, presented the application for the demolition of the existing West Hill Café and external public toilets and the redevelopment of the site to provide a new visitor centre incorporating café/restaurant, bar and ancillary takeaway uses , gallery/interpretation areas, retail floorspace and replacement internal toilet facilities.”
Printed minutesHastings Borough Council · Planning Committee, Wed 8 Jul 2026The paper, page 5 ↗
“The Deputy Chief Executive presented a report to update Cabinet on the statutory consultation carried out in relation to the proposed disposal, by long lease, of a small defined area of open space adjoining West Hill Café.”
Minutes Public Pack, 02/03/2026 CabinetHastings Borough Council · Cabinet, Wed 25 Mar 2026The paper ↗
“Immersive Classroom (Towns Fund Project).”
Overview and Scrutiny work programme, 2025-26
“Hastings Local Regeneration Fund (previously named Town Deal), includes the £10m Hastings Green Connections public realm project.”
East Sussex County Council Cabinet, 30 June 2026
“Green Connections & Schools & Learning – The Museum is developing plans and sourcing funding for the Collections Garden.”
Museum NPO Update Report September 2026Hastings Borough Council · Museum Committee, Mon 14 Sep 2026The paper, page 70 ↗
“The main underspend was at The Keep, where planned capital expenditure was treated as revenue rather than capital, with smaller underspends across Climate Control Works, Urban Tree Challenge and Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections.”
Report of the CabinetEast Sussex County Council · Full Council, Tue 14 Jul 2026The paper, page 41 ↗
“The programme has been delivered in 25/26. d) £456,000 - TFC - Town centre public realm & green connections (externally funded from Towns Fund Capital Grant).”
1202526FinancialUpdateReporttoendofMarch2026Hastings Borough Council · Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Wed 1 Jul 2026The paper ↗
How this page works
Each commitment is quoted from the plan, or from the report that adopted
it, and listed in config/commitments.yaml. Under it are the newest
sentences (up to 3, one per paper) from either council's papers in the
last 18 months that use the commitment's own words (and, for some, a word
that keeps it on topic, such as housing for community hubs), from the council
whose plan it is (both, for the Town Deal). Papers of questions, petitions,
consultation responses and feedback are left out, and so are planning
application reports, sentences citing an application, and a plan's own
restatement of itself.
A label appears only when one of those sentences says, close to the commitment's own words, in the same clause and not in the future tense, that the thing has been completed, delivered or opened (Delivered), is under way, on site or in progress (Under way), or that funding has been secured, agreed or awarded (Funded). “Will be completed” sets no label. No label means the papers quoted don't say either way. Read the quotes: they are what counts.