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Cabinet minutes

Committee minutes · Cabinet · Mon 2 Mar 2026 · Hastings Borough Council

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Cabinet agreed the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles and recommended to Full Council a continued No Casino Resolution for the borough, citing high levels of deprivation. p6

Cabinet agreed to accept Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 grant funding of between £3,514,000 and £7,208,000 to acquire up to 52 homes over four years, with a proportion prioritised for households resettled under the Afghan Resettlement Programme. p8p9

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  • p677. Review and Update of Hastings Borough Council Gambling Statement of Principles The Head of Community & Regulatory Services presented a report to seek approval from Cabinet to agree the updated Statement of Principles as required by the Gambling Act 2005. The report also seeks approval to recommend a No Casino resolution to Full Council. The council is required by law to review both the Gambling Statement of Principles and the No Casino Resolution every three years. An updated policy has been presented, with the only change being the addition of a Local Area Profile, which provides context on local characteristics and gambling?related harm specific to Hastings. A consultation took place in December, receiving four responses: the Director of Public Health at East Sussex County Council, two residents, and one borough councillor. No concerns were raised about the policy or the inclusion of the Local Area Profile, and there were no objections to continuing the No Casino Resolution. RESOLVED (unanimously): 1. Cabinet agree the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles and recommend to Full Council for adoption. 2. Recommend a No Casino resolution to not issue casino premises licences in the borough to Full Council. Reasons: 1. It is a statutory requirement for the council to review the Gambling Act Statement of Principles and the No Casino Resolution every three years. Failure to do so could result in judicial review proceedings against the council and call in to doubt the decisions made by the Licensing Committee under the Act. 2. Cabinet is invited to recommend to Full Council that the No Casino Resolution be retained, on the basis that: • Hastings exhibits exceptionally high levels of deprivation, making the population far more vulnerable to gambling related harms. • Introduction of a casino would be inconsistent with the licensing objectives, especially the requirement to protect children and vulnerable persons.
  • p878. Local Authority Housing Fund - Round 4 The Head of Housing presented a report to seek approval for Hastings Borough Council to accept funding allocated through the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) Round 4. The council has been offered £3,514,000 to deliver 26 homes over four years (2026/27- 2029/30) and has confirmed that it could increase delivery to 52 homes with a grant level of £7,028,000. Around 20% is expected to fund properties for the Afghan resettlement scheme. The Resettlement Coordinator informed the meeting that since the Afghan resettlement scheme began in September 2021, Hastings has resettled 23 families (over 100 people), including four in LAHF properties. The council provides intensive early support, funded by the Home Office for up to three years. The council has projected capacity to resettle at least six more households after April, with potential to take more if resources allow. Councillor Haffenden thanked the resettlement team for their work. Councillor Smith expressed appreciation for the work of the resettlement team and sought confirmation that schemes such as the Afghan and Syrian Resettlement Programmes directly benefit the council by helping increase access to additional housing stock, either council housing or temporary accommodation. Officers confirmed that resettlement schemes do provide a direct financial and housing benefit. Each Afghan refugee attracts £24,100 in Home Office funding over three years, and due to the typically larger family sizes, this funding covers support costs with a surplus that the council can use flexibly. Additionally, the council can purchase properties for the scheme at a 40–50% discount through grant funding and these homes become permanent council assets and can later be used for temporary accommodation or further resettlement. Councillor Kay asked about the risks associated with the resettlement housing programme, noting potential future uncertainties.
  • p9The Head of Housing replied that risks are considered low because the programme operates within the council’s established acquisitions process and uses an expert partner to source and negotiate properties at fair prices. Purchasing is done at a scale that avoids distorting the housing market, often involving homes bought below market value and refurbished. The main potential risk would be demand for temporary accommodation rising faster than the council can acquire properties, but current demand is stable and expected to ease with upcoming national housing reforms. After LGR, arrangements for how the acquired assets are held may change, but this does not affect the current programme because all spending and acquisitions will be completed beforehand. RESOLVED (unanimously): • To accept grant funding from the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) Round 4, which is expected to be between £3,514,000 and £7,208,000, to support the acquisition of up to 52 homes over four years (2026/27-2028/29) • To note and agree that, in line with LAHF grant conditions, the homes will be used as Temporary Accommodation for homeless households with a proportion (estimated to be 19%) prioritised for Aghan households resettled under the Afghan Resettlement Programme • To agree that the required match funding is met through the Phase 3 Housing Acquisition Programme Capital Budget • To grant delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer, or their nominated representative, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Community Wellbeing and Leisure Services, to enter into the necessary contracts and to progress the acquisition and development of identified homes. Reasons: 1. To provide authorisation for the Council to accept the LAHF Round 4 grant and enable the Council to acquire further homes to deliver Council owned temporary accommodation / resettlement homes. 2.

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