Hastings council elects new leader Julia Hilton

Hastings' previous leader stood down ahead of a no-confidence motion

A troubled council in Sussex has elected a new leader following weeks of political uncertainty.

Green councillor Julia Hilton became leader of Hastings Borough Council at a meeting on Wednesday.

Six cabinet members - who recently resigned from the Labour Party - quit their roles during the meeting where they faced a no-confidence motion.

The now independent councillors will be given jobs in the cabinet by the Greens as part of a power-sharing agreement.

The six are former leader Paul Barnett and deputy Maya Evans, as well as Andy Batsford, John Cannan, Ali Roark and Simon Willis.

Council officers have previously warned the authority faces bankruptcy

Ms Hilton, who represents Old Hastings and will remain as leader until the next annual council meeting and local elections said the council had found a "solution we can live with" until May.

She was nominated by Councillor Tony Collins and seconded by Nigel Sinden, carrying the vote with 11 in favour, two against and 14 abstentions.

'Dodgy deal'

During the meeting, Ms Hilton said the three Green councillors and eight Independents would form a new cabinet in coming days.

She said she had hoped to form a unity cabinet which would include Labour and Conservative members, but that had not proved possible.

However, she pledged to open up cabinet meetings to all councillors for discussion, adding she wants a "consensual decision-making process".

"Residents want to see their councillors working together in the running of our council for the good of the town," she added.

But Councillor Heather Bishop, leader of the Labour group, said the independent councillors had done a "dodgy deal" with the Green Party to "cling on to power".

Ms Bishop said: "Just four weeks ago, Councillor Hilton called the Hastings Independents 'highly irresponsible', but she has now done a deal to keep them in power.

"Even worse, despite their record of failure bringing the council to the brink of bankruptcy, Councillor Hilton has put the Independents back in charge of the council finances."

The Green Party has been contacted for comment.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].