Fees For Public Services To Go Up by 10% In Hastings

The cost of car parking, beach hut rental and crematorium services are set to rise in the new year, after fee increases gained the go ahead from Hastings council leaders.

On Monday (December 5), Hastings Borough Council’s cabinet approved plans to increase what the authority charges for a range of its services in an effort to reduce the impact of inflationary pressures on its budgets. 

According to the council, the alternative would be deeper cuts or using more of its already limited reserves to fill a hole in its finances.

Cllr Simon Willis, Labour cabinet member for finances, said:

“The 10 per cent [increase], which applies across the vast range of these fees and charges is something we’ve chosen quite carefully as a real terms reduction in the cost of the services provided by the council — in most cases — given that inflation is running higher than 10 per cent. 

“We do that mindful of the fact we face a very tight budgeting round, but also the fact that people need to have access to these services and face difficult times with harder times ahead as far as we can see in the coming winter and beyond.

“We’ve done what we can to keep our services as accessible as possible and look … to make up whatever shortfall we need to in some of the more commercial areas which don’t impact directly on the people who are least able to afford our services.”

The new prices are expected to come into force in February. Car park charges will generally increase by 10 per cent, however, the car parks at the Summerfields and Falaise leisure centres will remain the same as at present. 

Another concession will be a freeze in the price that community football clubs pay to rent pitches. This is intended to reflect the reducing pitch quality and a reduction in maintenance, however. A 10 per cent increase will still apply to commercial operators.

Allotment and beach hut rental costs will also rise by 10 per cent. 

While most services are set to increase by around 10 per cent, some are set to increase by greater percentages.

One of these cases was highlighted by Conservative group leader Andy Patmore, who said:

“One of the standout increases in fees is the chapel for funeral use. I think it was 74 per cent.

“I think it would just be helpful for the public to know why that increase is so large compared to the average 10 per cent across the whole board.”

The increase referenced by Cllr Patmore was the fee for additional rental of the chapel at Hastings Cemetery and Crematorium during funeral services. The cost for this service is  increasing from £149 to £259. 

The costs of a cremation service would not increase as sharply, however, with the fee for an adult cremation service increasing by 10 per cent (from £752 to £827). This fee includes use of the chapel for 30 minutes.

Officers said these increases reflected the market rate, putting the council’s fees at around the average price across the whole country. 

Other fees are also set to increase above 10 per cent, including the cost of hiring the bandstand and space at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery.