Council to increase service fees by at least 10%

Hastings Borough Councillors voted unanimously to raise charges on Monday night

Councillors in Hastings have voted to increase fees for local services by a minimum of 10%.

Affected services include car parks, beach huts, garden waste bins and cemetery and crematorium fees.

Hastings Borough Council (HBC) said the move was necessary to "protect frontline services".

The council said current estimates suggest £4m savings are required to cover the council's budget deficit in 2024/25.

Speaking to BBC Sussex, HBC leader Paul Barnett said: "We’re sorry that fees and charges have to go up but we’re in really tough times."

So what is increasing?

• Most car parking charges will increase by 10%

• Using the East and West Lifts will cost up to 42.9% more due to recent investment and high repair costs

• Beach huts and chalet fees will increase by 12%

• Garden waste (non-bulky) fees will increase by 12%

• Crematorium fees to increase by 10% for cremations and burials on site, while the use of chapels only will increase by 39.8%

Hastings' East Hill Lift in the Old Town will see increased fees

Councillor Barnett said: "The housing crisis is costing us an extra £5m a year. We are housing more than 1,000 people in temporary accommodation. The fees and charges increases will raise about £100,000."

He added that the authority was "cutting its cloth".