The new Cabinet of Hastings Borough Council has been discussing a range of issues including a new agreement in principle with Whitbread around the Cornwallis Street hotel.
Other councillors not on the Cabinet were invited to be part of the discussion around the hotel which was centred around an agreement in principle with Whitbread for them to purchase Cornwallis Street car park and fund the hotel themselves, meaning the council does not have to find the additional funding at a time when finances are already under pressure. The report was agreed by councillors.
The meeting also included discussion on the financial monitoring report which summarises the council’s finances which show that the number of residents needing temporary accommodation is stabilising, and an update to the housing allocation policy which sets out how housing is prioritised.
Councillors agreed reports covering the continuation of three alleygating schemes in the town and a new scheme in the town centre; the future of internal audit services for the council; the pay policy statement and the sale of land off Sidney Little Road.
Members of the public were also able to ask questions and listen to the debates.
Cllr Julia Hilton, leader of the council, said:
“These discussions covered several items that will have major implications for the council going forwards, especially the Cornwallis Street hotel. All councillors are grateful to officers who have been working hard for several months negotiating a new agreement which transfers the risk of building the hotel to Whitbread, so achieving a much better outcome for the council.
“This is a legacy project from a former administration and in discussion councillors agreed that while this outcome is a good one in that it removes any risk to the council from this project, there are lessons to be learnt going forward particularly in negotiating commercial contracts with a high level of risk.
"We also agreed the updated housing allocations scheme. This is a key tool in how we tackle the housing crisis, which all agree is a major priority for the town as well as the impact on the council’s finances.”
Cllr Simon Willis, lead councillor for housing, added:
“We’re really pleased that we had so many responses to the housing allocations consultation at the end of last year. We’ve used the feedback we were given to make a number of adjustments to our proposals, so thank you to everyone who took the time to reply. While it isn’t going to solve the housing crisis, making sure that we are making best use of the housing that we have is part of the solution.”
You can watch the meeting again online at https://www.hastings.gov.uk/my-council/cm/?v=3370564 and read the full agenda at https://hastings.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=5073.
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