Latest News from Eastbourne Borough Council

Posted March 24, 2025

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Latest News from Eastbourne Borough Council

Councillors agree £92,000 boost for community schemes

Cabinet councillors have approved grants totalling over £92,000 for a diverse range of community projects across Eastbourne that will benefit local people.

The community infrastructure levy (CIL) is a charge local authorities can make on new developments to help deliver infrastructure projects in their area.

The financial support agreed at last night’s (March 19) Cabinet meeting comes from a Neighbourhood CIL pot and will be used to help pay for various initiatives such as improving sports and play amenities, enhancing community buildings and support for the community food network.

Councillor Colin Swansborough, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Community Spaces and Planning, said: “This is great news for Eastbourne. These projects will make a real difference to the lives of local people, providing improved facilities, enhancing our public spaces, and supporting a wide range of community activities.

“It is particularly welcome to be able to confirm these grants in the face of ongoing pressures to council budgets.”

Recipients include Defiant Sport which will receive £10,000 to improve its facilities including disabled access toilets; Community Wise gets £5,566 towards enhancing its foyer; Friends of Eastbourne Seafront is granted £8,000 for its Wooden Play Trail to be built near Eastbourne Skatepark; Eastbourne Rugby Club is awarded £10,000 for clubhouse improvements; and £3,500 has been agreed for an e-cargo bike to serve community food groups.

Additionally, £8,000 has been allocated to create Sovereign Harbour Play Park; £20,000 for the installation of Shinewater Kiosk with café and toilets; and £3,215 for an internal access ramp at the Wish Tower.

Councillor Swansborough added: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support such a diverse range of initiatives that will have a positive impact on people of all ages and interests.”

Since the CIL scheme began 10 years ago, Eastbourne Borough Council has collected just over £1,065,000 to fund infrastructure projects in the borough.

Initial plan approved for Local Government Reorganisation in East Sussex

Cabinet councillors at Eastbourne Borough Council last night (March 19) agreed an interim plan on Local Government Reorganisation for submission to government.

The plan is required after the government announced last month that the East Sussex area would be part of a Devolution Priority Programme.

The document outlines an initial proposal to create one new unitary authority based on existing county boundaries, following the abolishment of the six existing councils in East Sussex.

The interim plan – which was jointly compiled by Eastbourne Borough, Lewes District, Hastings Borough, Rother District, Wealden District and East Sussex County councils – states that funding for the organisation must come from government as it cannot be met from existing councils’ budgets.

Councillor Stephen Holt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: “It is important to stress that nothing is set in stone at this stage and, most importantly, all residents will have the opportunity to have their say over the coming months. This is a significant shift in local government, and I want to ensure that residents are fully aware and part of the process.”

“Feedback from the public consultation will help inform our final plans which have to be submitted to government in six months’ time. We will also consult on whether or not residents would like to see the formation of a Town Council.”

A consultation on the interim plan will be held for residents across East Sussex over the coming months.

The six councils must submit final, detailed proposals in September.

If approved, a new shadow council would be elected in May 2027 and the unitary authority would take over in April 2028, when existing councils in East Sussex would cease to exist.

Councillor praises ‘effectiveness’ of Community Safety Partnership

Cabinet councillors have welcomed achievements by the local Community Safety Partnership that have contributed to making Eastbourne a safer place to live and work over the past year.

Eastbourne Borough Council’s Cabinet members were last night (March 19) updated on 2024/25 activities of the Eastbourne and Lewes Community Safety Partnership (CSP) which comprises representatives from police, fire service, councils, the probation service and others.

Councillor Margaret Bannister, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “The partnership continues to demonstrate its effectiveness in addressing local crime and anti-social behaviour through collaborative initiatives and targeted interventions.”

Key activities undertaken by the partnership over the last 12 months include:

Supporting Sussex Police’s campaigns to support retailers and target prolific shoplifters in Eastbourne town centre through covert operations, Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders.
Investing in security improvements for the seafront area, including new lighting and CCTV cameras, to address concerns about drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and theft.
Replacing faulty and ageing CCTV cameras in the town centre with newer models that deliver better image quality, night vision capability, and compatibility with the digital network.
Funding Safety in Action workshops in local schools, delivered by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, to educate year 6 children about fire risks, road safety, water safety, first aid and personal safety.

Eastbourne and Lewes CSP is funded through an annual grant awarded by the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. The funding level, currently set at £48,547, has remained unchanged since 2019.

“The partnership consistently delivers exceptional value for money but we really need an increase in funding to broaden the impact of this important work,” added Councillor Bannister. “The CSP’s ability to leverage resources and collaborate effectively with various stakeholders enables it to achieve significant outcomes to help enhance safety for local residents and businesses, as well as visitors to the town.”

2050 vision for Eastbourne Seafront moves ahead

Cabinet councillors have approved next steps to drive forward a strategy that creates a 2050 vision for Eastbourne’s iconic seafront, following an extensive public consultation.

At a Cabinet meeting last night (March 19), councillors discussed the findings of the summer 2024 consultation, which saw significant engagement from residents, visitors and local businesses at six workshops and other events. More than 2,220 survey responses were received in this first consultation stage.

Councillor Stephen Holt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: “Eastbourne Seafront is a vital asset for our town, and it’s crucial that we have a clear vision for its future. The public consultation has provided invaluable insights, and I’m delighted that we are moving forward with measures to create a vibrant, safe, and inclusive space for everyone to enjoy. We are committed to ensuring that this strategy reflects the aspirations of our community.”

Key priorities that emerged from this initial consultation were:

Heritage: preserving the town’s heritage and conserving important assets.

Culture: Sustaining traditional events and introducing new cultural initiatives to enhance the seafront experience.

Tourism: Establishing Eastbourne as a year-round destination with a wider range of activities, food and drink venues, and improved public spaces.

Health and Leisure: Promoting wellbeing and active lifestyles through improved walking and cycling routes, facilities for water sports and leisure activities, and spaces that promote healthy living.

Safety and Inclusivity: Creating a safe and accessible seafront for everyone, with improved disability access, child-friendly spaces, and a welcoming environment for all members of the community.

Recommendations approved by Cabinet last night include hosting public workshops over the coming months to further develop the overall vision, undertaking the next round of consultation, expressing an interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to enable planning for a community heritage programme, and establishing a new Seafront Stakeholder Group to support the implementation of the evolving strategy.

Councillor Jenny Williams, Cabinet Member for Heritage, Culture and Seafront, added: “Our seafront is not only a focal point for tourism but also a place of immense cultural and historical significance. The steps we agreed today will help us to protect and enhance our heritage, create new cultural opportunities, and ensure that the seafront remains a thriving and welcoming destination for generations to come. We look forward to inviting residents, businesses and stakeholders to attend our next workshops in the upcoming months.”

Setting out how people want the seafront to look and function for the future will also be used to inform the Environment Agency in designing coastal defences as part of the Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme. Additionally, the strategy will help preparation of the new Eastbourne Local Plan.

Share your views on the East Sussex County Council climate and health survey

East Sussex County Council want to hear about the effects of extreme weather, natural disasters, or environmental problems on your wellbeing, to help assess how climate change is affecting the health outcomes of people in East Sussex.

The assessment will help to develop plans for protecting people’s health and wellbeing in the future.

Examples of climate issues include: