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New to Hastings

How things are run here, for anyone who has just moved in: the two councils, your ward and councillors, and the first things people usually register for. Each link goes to the body that runs it.

Two councils

Hastings Borough Council runs the day-to-day services in the town: its page names bin collection, benefits, housing, parking, sports and recreation. East Sussex County Council runs, in the borough council's words, schools and education, libraries, roads and transport and adult social care. Your council tax bill comes from the borough council and pays for both, and for the police and fire services.

Your ward and councillors

Hastings is split into wards. Each has borough councillors; the county council is elected by larger divisions. Type your postcode on the councillors page to see yours.

The first things to register

Keeping up

Dates and registering

The next closing dates for school applications in East Sussex: 31 October 2026 for a secondary school place; 15 January 2027 for a primary school place. Every date.

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships are registered at Hastings Register Office in the Town Hall, by appointment. Its hours, and what to do when.

This is the civic side of moving in. It doesn't list shops, services or businesses.

Every outside link on this page was opened and read on the day shown beside it, most recently 11 Oct 2026. Each goes to the body that runs the service. Links not rechecked for 90 days are listed on data health.