tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31309066914869793362024-03-05T02:44:59.903-08:00Councillor Jeremy Birch, Leader of Hastings Borough CouncilWelcome to the official blog for the Leader of Hastings Borough Council, Councillor Jeremy Birch.Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-68117123379985210922015-05-07T07:16:00.000-07:002015-05-07T07:16:17.892-07:00Jeremy <br />
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Following the sad death of Hastings Borough Council’s leader Cllr Jeremy Birch, a flag bearing the Hastings coat of arms is being flown from Hastings town hall as a mark of respect. A book of condolence has also been opened, in the community contact centre in Hastings town hall. And one minutes silence will be held during the election count at Horntye Park tonight.</div>
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The deputy leader of Hastings Borough Council, Cllr Peter Chowney, has paid tribute to Cllr Jeremy Birch: - “It was w<span style="color: #141823;">ith enormous sadness that I learnt of the death of Jeremy Birch, leader of Hastings Council, yesterday afternoon. It was sudden and unexpected, and my thoughts are with his partner Louise and his family at this terrible time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">“Jeremy had been leader of Hastings Council for fifteen years - I'd been his deputy for just two years. His dedication to Hastings was unquestionable, having been born and bred here (something he occasionally reminded me of, me being a ‘DFL’ of just 18 years residency), and had devoted his life to the regeneration of our borough, and to making Hastings and St Leonards a better place. He was well known and respected not just in East Sussex, but throughout the region, and was instrumental in getting a big share of whatever regional and national resources were on offer, largely down to his persuasive intellect, absolute dedication, and unswerving devotion to the place he was born in.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">“In public, he was an astonishing orator, and showed all the qualities a leader should. In private, he was witty and entertaining, with a succinct and precise sense of humour that I certainly appreciated. It's so hard to realise that I'm not going to experience that again: the witticisms, the incisive explanations, and yes, the arguments - but always constructive ones.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">“But as well as the council leader, he was most importantly a personal friend and comrade. I can't believe he's gone, and it makes me so sad to be writing this. So, goodbye Jeremy - you were a worthy son of Hastings, a tireless fighter for what was right and good, and a true socialist. We'll never forget you.”</span></div>
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And the Mayor of Hastings, Cllr Bruce Dowling, added: - “I have known Jeremy as much as a friend as a fellow councillor, and am personally devastated at his passing. Like me he was Hastings born and bred, and proud of it. And he was passionate about this town.</div>
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“I know tributes have already been paid from members of all political parties; everyone recognised that what he did he did for the best of Hastings.</div>
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“He was larger than life in every respect, and our meetings, Hastings Borough Council, and Hastings the town, will not be the same. We have lost a real friend.”</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Original Press Statement Issued by Hastings Borough Council</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We were very sad indeed to learn of the death of the Leader of Hastings Borough Council, Councillor Jeremy Birch earlier today. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">His partner, Louise has given the following statement 'It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of Jeremy Birch.'</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />'The family would like to express their thanks to the critical care unit at the conquest hospital. We want it to be noted that the staff at the Conquest have been committed, compassionate and professional. We do not think we could have had a better service anywhere else. '<br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Note to Editors:- No further statements will be made and we would very much appreciate if Council Members, Officers and members of his family are not contacted any more in relation to this story.</span></i></div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-34479391297050323952015-02-26T08:30:00.000-08:002015-02-26T08:30:21.440-08:002015-16 Budget<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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We have just completed the toughest budget-setting anyone in
the council can remember. The full council meeting on 25<sup>th</sup> February
approved the final budget for 2015-16 including a 1.9% increase in the council
tax. With similar rises from the other organisations that levy council tax on
local people – fire, police and the county council – the average increase for
Hastings households from April will be 1.95%.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The backdrop to this budget has been really challenging. Hastings
Borough Council has received a cut of over 50% in its grant from central
government to provide services to local people. It is just not possible to
continue doing all the things we have done before or would want to do. Just for
this budget year 2015-16 we have suffered the largest reduction in what the
government calculates as revenue spending power of any council in the south
east – 6.4%. With the extra needs of Hastings I believe this is just not fair.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The council has had to find £1 million of savings to balance
its budget for 2015/16 and provisionally it has a two-year balanced budget up
to 2017. But significant reductions have had to be made. The Old Town museum
will close and its collection moved to the main museum off Cambridge Road, support
for the Chess Congress and for twinning will be cut, charges for things like
parking, chalets and garden waste collection will be rise and there will be a
£20,000 cut in support to voluntary organisations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As part of the two-year budget plan 20 council posts will
disappear in 2015/16 and 20 more in the following year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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These have been very difficult decisions but I was pleased
just how understanding the organisations we went to speak were to about our
budget proposals. They recognised the very unfavourable positon Hastings had
been put in. Some decided themselves to write to the government pointing this
out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Yet even in this difficult environment we have been able to
find a bit of extra money for key initiatives. These include continuing our
work on bathing water quality and preparing plans for the West Marina and White
Rock areas. We have also found £50,000 to partly mitigate the impact on the
most vulnerable from the government’s cut of £100,000 in the money they give us
for discretionary housing payments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The council’s four-year capital programme grosses £16m. It
will see £400,000 spent on building a new Country Park visitor centre ("an
ambition for at least 15 years" according to the Friends of the Country
Park), £700,000 building a new council-owned factory, £800,000 renovating the
White Rock Baths building, £160,000 on Bottle Alley and £5m on a second phase
of the Coastal Space project in St Leonards with money from AmicusHorizon
housing association and from the Homes and Communities Agency.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In this budget we have done all we can to protect vital
frontline services and those services that local people have told us they value
the most. But almost no-one in local government believes that councils as we
know them are sustainable if the current reductions in financial support from
central government continue.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-66422397369239114302015-01-16T00:56:00.000-08:002015-01-16T00:56:02.129-08:002015-16 Budget
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Working up a draft budget for the next two years has been a
hugely difficult process after the government reduced the council’s spending
power by 6.4% - the highest in the south east. Leading councillors and senior
officers have spent many hours poring through the council’s spending - every
pound has been examined to check if it is really needed. We have carried out in
depth reviews of or largest spending areas and sought to improve and
rationalise our internal processes<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But we for the council’s 2015/16 budget it has been
impossible to avoid further job losses and cuts to council services. However,
key services to local people have been protected as best they can be.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We are reducing the number of directors from three to two,
and we will look at the remainder of our senior management structure during this
year with a view to making further savings. The loss of council posts has been
restricted to around 20 this year, perhaps 40 over a two-year period – which is
about 10% of our workforce. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But we have managed to protect those services most dear to
the hearts of local people and those that make the biggest difference to the
town. However, some savings will still be difficult to swallow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of each £1 residents pay in council tax, just 14p comes to
Hastings Borough Council, the rest goes to East Sussex County Council, Sussex
Police, and the East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. The budget includes a
1.9% increase in Hastings Borough Council’s element of the council tax, which
will cost the average Band D council tax payer an extra £4.48 per year, or just
under 10p per week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Car park charges will also go up for the first time in two
years and be frozen for the next two years. </div>
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Over the next two years the council will use around £1m of
the reserves it built up to help cushion the transition down to a smaller,
lower spending authority.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In 2015/16 the Old Town Museum is earmarked for closure with
its displays to be taken to the main museum off Cambridge Road. Only the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship
Link will receive any twinning money – there will no financial support for
links with the other twin towns. There will be a significant cut in support for
the annual Hastings Chess Congress and a reduction in the support the council
has been able to give local community organisations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The council is looking to make over £200,000 of savings by
enabling more payment s by residents and contacts with the council to be
completed electronically. It is also reducing its accommodation needs by
introducing more flexible working arrangements for council staff. With
computerised contact more staff can work from home at times or if out on the
road not need to come back in to write reports. As a result a whole floor of
the main Aquila House office block could be made vacant and available for
letting out and so bringing in an income.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is inevitable that we will become a smaller organisation
delivering fewer services over the next two years because the money is not
there. We will be putting renewed effort into looking for external funding opportunities,
from Europe, etc. to try to sustain some of the important initiatives we have
begun. However, even with fewer resources our commitment to reviving the town
and improving the lives of local people remains.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The budget is now out for public consultation so let us know
your views. The final decision will then be made at the full council meeting on
25<sup>th</sup> February.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-74306043058133164052015-01-02T01:31:00.002-08:002015-01-02T01:31:36.495-08:00New Year, New Challenges
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I’m confident 2015 is going to be a particularly significant
year for our town. Hastings Pier will rise from the ashes – and I’m really
pleased the council’s compulsory purchase of the structure played a big part in
the restoration and the coming re-opening. Nearby the old White Rock Baths
(where Miss Penny taught me to swim all those years ago) will at last come back
into use in 2015 as a major new centre for BMX biking.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The council has further exciting plans for the seafront
which we have been consulting local people on. The seafront is our shop window
and as it improves so the whole town looks more attractive and appealing to
visitors or to those planning to move here or relocate their business here.
I am determined we will make progress on
the old Bathing Pool site in 2015 and the council will be looking at new ideas
to unlock the economic potential of the White Rock and Falaise area. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Bexhill-Hastings Link Road will open in 2015 and if that
significantly reduces traffic on the seafront let’s look at how we can civilise
that wide concrete space that separates the town from the sea.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our open spaces will see significant progress in 2015. In
the East a new visitor centre is planned for our treasured Country Park and a
new visitor facility and play area are being prepared in the West in the new
Combe Valley Countryside Park.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But we are not just about high profile improvements; we want
to make sure everyone benefits from the revival of Hastings. The council has
been consulting on the introduction of a licensing scheme for all privately
rented accommodation in large parts of the town to ensure decent homes for
tenants. In 2015 the council also plans to trial running a social lettings
agency itself – which should benefit tenants and landlords alike. We will also
be launching a second phase of the Coastal Space project with AmicusHorizon in
Central St Leonards – buying up, improving and letting as social housing a
further 50 flats.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 2015 we will be retaining the same discount arrangements
on council tax for benefit claimants despite the government taking away 10% of
the funds for this. We will also be looking at how the activities funded by the
life-saving local welfare assistance fund can be continued despite the
government ending this special pot of money.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2015 will see the plans coming together for the major
national cultural festival to mark 2016 the 950<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the
Battle of Hastings. Cultural regeneration will continue to be a major feature
of our work to continue the town’s upward momentum.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I believe Hastings is at a turning point. The positive
national press coverage over the last few months indicates how people around
the country are looking at our town differently – as a town that is improving,
that is creative and lively, a town really going somewhere. 2015 will see
further progress in the renaissance of Hastings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is, however, a dark cloud hanging over Hastings
Borough Council. We are facing the largest reduction in our spending power of
any council in the south east following the government’s funding settlement for
local authorities. We face a 6.4% reduction in 2015; Wealden council covering
affluent places like Crowborough and Wadhurst will see a 1.4% rise. Difficult
decisions will have to be made in this year’s council budget, but we will do
everything we can to protect jobs and the council services that local residents
value the most.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-39874282618312805182014-06-05T04:46:00.003-07:002014-06-05T04:46:35.901-07:00Programme for the year ahead...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe_YEzB1nZLk6KpZmxsIqiZ4pG8GKmDjhSO411ELl37frZvCs11z-KK8-ghaglo4zSRd58y7r7AWtoqNZcx-pyv4goEm4lbcQHtt2ZvdiOaDMXRYykXh6JYTKrFqVkaKhSRdpDSwqbOs/s1600/Tackleway+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe_YEzB1nZLk6KpZmxsIqiZ4pG8GKmDjhSO411ELl37frZvCs11z-KK8-ghaglo4zSRd58y7r7AWtoqNZcx-pyv4goEm4lbcQHtt2ZvdiOaDMXRYykXh6JYTKrFqVkaKhSRdpDSwqbOs/s1600/Tackleway+pic.jpg" height="225" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The election and all that door-knocking and leafleting is
now over. Obviously I am pleased with the increased majority on the council and
very proud to have been elected leader again at the council’s annual meeting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the meeting I outlined the programme of activity for the
next year which is programme was made up of the policies put before the people
of the town in the local elections and which gained their overwhelming
approval.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hastings Borough Council will continue to be an
interventionist council. What’s different about us is we don’t just believe in
administering services, we believe in getting stuck in and trying to change the
town and improve it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So our grotbuster squad will continue to get stuck in to
run-down and derelict properties around the town. We will continue our
programme of compulsory purchase of long-term empty homes with 27 more being
brought before our July cabinet meeting for action. In July we will also be
discussing licensing all privately-rented property at least in those parts of the
town where the private rented sector is particularly large.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also announced some new initiatives like the setting up of
a confidential tenants hotline so those in living in poor conditions could feel
safe to report problems which will the council will then act on, the
installation of a solar array on the redundant Pebsham tip to generate
electricity and a guarantee of no badger culling on council land.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I promised a new visitor centre for the Country Park,
further improvements to the seafront especially the Pier and exciting new plans
for White Rock Baths and pledged that everything would be done to ensure our
bathing water meets EU standards.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But many people will want to know what can be done to make
our town more prosperous and to create more jobs for them and their families.
So I announced the appointment by the council of an anti-poverty co-ordinator
who will bring together all the activities of different organisations in the
town to tackle poverty. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And in addition the appointment of a cultural co-ordinator
whose job is to plan and raise the money for a national cultural festival in
2016 – the 950<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Promoting Hastings
as a cultural hub brings visitors and income but also is attracting creative
businesses and creative individuals to relocate here. But equally we want to
promote Hastings
as a centre for high-tech engineering based on the number of firms we already
have in this sector. And the council has secured European Assisted Area Status
which can offer financial support to businesses growing or moving to the town.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I concluded by reminding councillors of the serious
financial challenges facing the council with the loss of 50% of its government
grant to fund local services. I hope the people of the town will work with the
council to ensure those services they cherish the most and that could bring the
most<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>benefit to the town are protected
and to let the council know their opinions as we make some difficult decisions.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-32788711616775685112014-04-03T06:36:00.001-07:002014-04-03T06:36:03.055-07:00Cultural Hotspot<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Increasingly over the last few years I have
felt that the new “place to be” (which was once the slogan for Brighton and Hove) is now Hastings and St Leonards. I feel that this
area is on the cusp of greatness. It has changed beyond recognition in the last
10 to 15 years. The area has some challenges, and if you did choose to live or
move your business there, there are some social problems that are still part
and parcel of the town. It is a very mixed community, which is one reason I
like it so much.” So says Andy Winter, the chief executive of Brighton Housing
Trust on his own blog recently.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Last month the Daily Telegraph ran an
article about a young couple, Leida and Will, who had bought an old converted
pub near Hastings
town centre. “A</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">s with so much of Hastings,
the street is changing, and bit by bit other properties are being done up,” the
article read. The couple had moved from Brighton
and the transition there happened very fast. Leida said:”Suddenly there were no
more empty buildings – it had all been done. I was constantly saying things
like, ‘Brighton used to be so this or so that’.”
What will she do if Hastings
similarly really goes on the up? “What will I do? I’ll lap it up,” she told the
paper.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As we know Hastings is the most
musically sophisticated town in the country. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">More than 94,000 people across the country answered questions on their
musical background and musical habits in a</span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">study carried out
by researchers from Goldsmiths, University
of London and BBC Lab UK.
Interestingly the report was published the very week of our own Fat Tuesday
programme and of the Hastings International Piano Competition final.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And if that wasn’t enough work on restoring
our Pier is very visibly progressing well; the nationally renowned Jerwood
Gallery has a new Spring exhibition. The university is on track to double its
number of students in the town.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There’s even a suggestion that we are the
new Shoreditch – the area of east London
revived by becoming the home of artists and all sorts of cultural activists.
The well-known Culture Trip website carries an article “Why Hastings is the Shoreditch
of Sussex and the UK’s
new cultural hotspot.” The article comments: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hastings is a
place for experimentation in a less competitive atmosphere than London (and more specifically the real Shoreditch) but
remains a refreshing change from the buzz of London
or the blinding colour of Brighton.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It’s all very flattering but while there’s much
that’s new and exciting about Hastings and St Leonards we’re not trying to
become somewhere else. We want to continue improving with culture and
creativity to the fore while at the same time retaining our own identity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Where else would you get such a diverse calendar
of festivals and events that brings us each May Day the Jack in the Green procession
accompanied by the revving engines of 20,000 visiting bikers. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And a bet you
can’t eat the best fish and chips in the country in Shoreditch!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-84145445949708500362014-03-20T00:31:00.002-07:002014-03-20T00:31:21.223-07:00Getting back on track
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Commuters
and local businesses are getting increasingly frustrated and angered by the
delay to fixing the landslip on the Hastings-Charing Cross line. We have not
had a full train service on this line since before Christmas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Despite
promises that it would re-open earlier in the month the landslip at Whatlington
has still not been fixed meaning a disrupted train journey with a bus ride
between Robertsbridge and Battle. Network Rail have given up setting dates
for re-opening the line and are now saying it will be closed “till further
notice.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This
is just not acceptable. It is hard enough on local residents who commute to
London, or who need to use the line for other trips, business and pleasure, but
Easter will be upon us shortly, and we will then be into the summer season.
No-one wanting a day trip to the seaside will choose to travel on a rail
replacement bus service, and the continued closure of the line could have a
potentially serious effect on our visitor economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So
I’ve written to Network Rail, who are responsible for the rail infrastructure,
expressing my concerns. The importance of this route to Hastings is obvious </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">–</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> it is our mainline, our rail lifeline to the
capital. Although not as high profile as the Great Western main line, it is
nevertheless vital to us. I have said in my letter that I hope
that the line has not been given a lower priority just because the
Whatlington landslip is not as photogenic or as accessible as
the line at Dawlish which was washed away by the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dawlish has in fact been
given a date for re-opening – 4<sup>th</sup> April. Unless Network Rail makes
urgent progress the Hastings line could be closed longer than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I must stress that I am not
critical of the staff and contractors who continue to work in difficult
conditions on the ground trying to repair the line. My criticism is of the lack
of maintenance and planning which continues to give us timetables for the
line's reopening which are then broken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> I have sent a
copy of my letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, as if necessary the
Department of Transport should be approached to help fund the necessary
re pair work. The prime minister said money would be no object to deal with
the aftermath of flooding and the
weather has caused just as much damage to our rail links.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For a main line to be closed
indefinitely with no firm date set for its reopening is just not good enough.
Our town, our residents and our visitors deserve better. And I will keep
pressing Network Rail to fix it until further notice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-69587396190429257572014-03-03T03:12:00.000-08:002014-03-03T03:12:23.179-08:00Budget <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO2Q2FqfCN9fTsyNKJyRLgd4wmrEnoT0GtwNGijseiJgJfw8oX3W3dwcmfwB_eAvv7QZmEEn0P42j7fA4DP6tIinTSSemyKuss5MJWDBIgQp1HvAz-Tl8_rHE35yHbCY5zNyYhqvFHkw/s1600/BfNuNyWIYAAfqMC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO2Q2FqfCN9fTsyNKJyRLgd4wmrEnoT0GtwNGijseiJgJfw8oX3W3dwcmfwB_eAvv7QZmEEn0P42j7fA4DP6tIinTSSemyKuss5MJWDBIgQp1HvAz-Tl8_rHE35yHbCY5zNyYhqvFHkw/s1600/BfNuNyWIYAAfqMC.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Council Leader Jeremy Birch talking about the budget</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The council set its 2014-15 budget on 26<sup>th</sup>
February. The headlines are: no increase in the borough council’s element of
the council tax, no increase in council car park charges and no job losses as a
result of the budget. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The backdrop to the budget is that Hastings Borough Council
is receiving the biggest cut in government grant of any council in the South
East – 50% since 2010. Government grant amounts to more than half of the
council’s net income.<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This can only mean the council becoming a smaller authority,
employing less staff and providing fewer services to local people over the next
few years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But we have prepared as best we can for this. By building up
our reserves we are now able to release some of that money to support the
budget for next year and for the next couple of years to help smooth our downward
path to a smaller council.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, some new spending has still been made possible in
the new budget. The council will be spending £20,000 a year on co-ordinating a
town-wide anti-poverty action plan involving a number of public bodies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There
will also be a one-off sum of £300,000 for a national cultural festival to celebrate
the 950<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Battle of Hastings in 2016.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The council also agreed its capital investment programme
which amounts to £3 million for 2014-15. This includes nearly £1 million on
disabled facilities grants to adapt the homes of residents who need it,
£250,000 for Hastings Pier, £250,000 as part of a lottery bid to improve Hastings Castle as a visitor attraction and £100,000
to improve facilities for mourners at the crematorium.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the freeholder of Priory Meadow the council is putting
£200,000 into a £2 million facelift and improvement package which of course
will see H&M moving in at the end of March.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe we are an effective and efficient council and the
government agrees as they gave us the maximum £250,000 efficiency bonus. Now this
budget is approved we are moving on to efficiency reviews of council services
to see how we can do still better and be still more cost-effective in this
climate of serious grant reductions.</div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-91645875670122587282014-01-27T04:48:00.000-08:002014-01-27T04:48:26.999-08:00Parking in Hastings<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Is there such a thing
as free parking? Well of course there is. In Silverhill, Ore
Village or Central St Leonards where the shops are very much local small
businesses. But in every town of our size the main town centre and tourist
areas are charged.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the town centre wasn’t charged and controlled the parking
spaces would be filled all day by people who work in the town centre or by
commuters – there would be no room for shoppers or visitors. It would be the
worst possible result for shops big and small.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The whole theory of parking is to encourage drivers to come
to the town centre to combine a number of activities in the same visit, rather
than keep coming back, costing them petrol for each task. So you come to town to
go to the bank, look round the shops, visit the hair dresser and have a coffee
all in one trip and park in an off-street car park for a couple of hours to do
it all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you really need to nip to town for a single activity,
like picking up a prescription or paying in a cheque, and want to park for 20
or 30 minutes then you park on the streets and pay at the meters. These meters
are the responsibility of East Sussex County Council.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what about the idea of Hastings Borough Council making
the first 30 minutes free in its car parks. I’m not sure it would help the
really short-term parker. The walk from a car park back and forth to the
chemist might take half the 30 minutes; if you had to queue when you got there
you’d be in trouble.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Car parks are for longer staying visitors and businesses
want people to stay longer. Cafes don’t want you in town for half an hour, they
want you to relax. The shopping centre doesn’t want you for half an hour they
want you to wander around the shops. And 30 minutes would definitely not be
enough time for parking in a car park, walking to the hairdressers and then
having the appointment. It wouldn’t be long enough to enjoy the ice rink as
11,000 people did at Xmas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best thing for business prosperity is that we park and
then stay in the town centre for longer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So is the free 30 minutes merely a way round getting cheaper
car park charges? If so how do Hastings
charges compare to our neighbours. For one hour’s parking Hastings Borough
Council’s town centre car parks are 10p more expensive than Eastbourne’s
Arndale Centre; but for two hours 20p cheaper.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course the truth is no-one pays for a three litres of
petrol to drive to Eastbourne because the car
park charges might be cheaper.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reason we shop locally or go elsewhere is the quality of
what is on offer. We are just about to see a £2 million refurbishment of Priory
Meadow including the arrival of a large new, nationally popular store trading
on two floors. Hastings
town centre has less empty shops than the national average and the number of
people going into our shopping centre is holding up well against other places.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what’s the financial impact of the free 30 minutes idea?
If it was introduced in Hastings Borough Council’s car parks the loss of income
would be equivalent to a 2% rise in the council tax - so I suppose you could
take your choice. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the coming financial year the council is freezing the
council tax and freezing its car park charges. In the financial climate when we
have lost 50% of our government grant to run the town that is about the best
any of us could expect.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-39448126757500234582013-12-17T05:52:00.000-08:002013-12-17T05:52:08.822-08:002013 Round Up<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Hastings and St Leonards have positive and varied character, a proactive and collaborative council with a lively mix of trusts and charities contributing to the town’s regeneration. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">The towns have an authentic sense of distinctiveness.” </span></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">So said the judges of this year’s Great Town Award where our town came second out of 74 nominations. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">We also had a crack at becoming UK city of culture 2017. And all this gets national recognition for Hastings as a distinctive, cultural, improving place to visit, live, study or invest in. The Jerwood Gallery’s posters on many stations on the line from Charing Cross help with our image too.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So, 2013 was another year of revival and improvement for the town.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Visitors to the town have continued to grow; jobs have increased. Jerwood celebrated their first anniversary; our university centre its tenth and the opening of its new Priory Square building. The council compulsorily purchased Hastings Pier and work has begun on its restoration.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2014 will see the biggest investment in our town centre since Priory Meadow opened, new monies going into the fishing quarter and grants for creative businesses. And our plans for a cultural celebration of 950 years since 1066 will take shape.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The social challenges in Hastings have not vanished; the council is facing big financial difficulties but our town continues to move forward.</span></span></div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-85566568458403481532013-11-12T04:09:00.001-08:002013-11-13T05:46:43.621-08:00Hastings is Great<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJBFrPU0ZAWuHpoKAo9mmF5TKqfPdSfRp01Dr6YvX3w27NbQ6u29CerzigXE1mTLTYgIyUhBfRqh1qkDnMMqeQcJqxtsrEZ1dTeGoWeSjBn3XxMOADkXOGu3mDttKlh9e8jQlLi5LkTY/s1600/Urbanism%2520Award%2520Photo%25202H8A0505-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJBFrPU0ZAWuHpoKAo9mmF5TKqfPdSfRp01Dr6YvX3w27NbQ6u29CerzigXE1mTLTYgIyUhBfRqh1qkDnMMqeQcJqxtsrEZ1dTeGoWeSjBn3XxMOADkXOGu3mDttKlh9e8jQlLi5LkTY/s320/Urbanism%2520Award%2520Photo%25202H8A0505-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glyn Carter, Monica Adams-Acton, Councillor Chowney <br />and Councillor Jeremy Birch at the Urbanism Awards<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So Hastings and St Leonards
were pipped at the post for the Great Town 2014 award. The Academy of Urbanism
shortlisted our town down to the final three and invited us to their awards
ceremony along with Buxton and Cork.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It really was like being at
the Oscars. I’d worked out what I would say if we were called up as winners. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The chief reviewer gave his comments
on the strengths of each of the three and was very generous in what he said
about us. “Have we got it” I wondered. Then that slight pause after “and the
winner is”…Cork.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So yes after all the build
up and all that nervous energy it was a bit deflating but not for long. Seventy
four towns were considered for this year’s prestigious honour and we were there
in the top three.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The delegation from the
Academy visited the town back in the Summer – although unfortunately it rained
for most of their visit which showed up in the photos on the big screen at the awards
ceremony. We entertained them at the Jerwood Gallery in the company of
representatives of different public organisations and community bodies in the
town.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Their conclusions included really
complementary conclusions like:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Hastings is
a name with high recognition, nationally and to some extent internationally; an
advantage to this resort on the south coast of England, striving to attract
investment, political attention and visitors. Hastings</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> and St
Leonards have positive and varied character, a proactive and
collaborative council with a lively mix of trusts and charities</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">contributing to the town’s regeneration.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> The cultural
offer of Hastings and St Leonards is seen by all as a key element of
the regeneration of the town. The privately funded Jerwood</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gallery is a
recent asset to the town, attracting visitors from far and</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> wide. Its
outreach to the local community perhaps might be developed further.
There is a positive strategy in Hastings
of supporting events and</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> festivals throughout the year to ‘stretch’ the
attraction to visitors.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Had I been called to respond
on our behalf as the winning town I would have said we hope we are an example
of a socially challenged town trying to regenerate itself without losing its
essential identity. And I would have talked about the opportunities culture and
the arts are offering us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The city of culture judges
recognised that in our bid for that accolade for 2017.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Celebrating the 950th
anniversary of the Battle of Hastings and working to realise our cultural
potential as a means to continue reviving the town go together. So despite the
borough council’s on-going financial challenges we are looking to put one-off
money into making the most of 2016 and looking for serious public and private
sponsorship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Academy and the city of
culture judges all recognised just what Hastings
can become. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even in these difficult times I want to make sure we get there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And of course being Hastings born and bred I’ve always known we’re a Great Town.</span></div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-39476822333631026532013-09-30T00:30:00.001-07:002013-09-30T00:32:11.639-07:00Specially Successful September<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCnxR_6bMYoiC5Gpc3wulnWZ8S_4AIhPe380phctPjEBKAEov6KLWKqtZm0QXn0HjKgKwya4WDw5zXeY9CYHGjskl5E_rvXb7aHzPNtJg0bN7N_WRtBFWLDivh0TytB09G620JxE7rBA/s1600/JB+at+Composers+Festival+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCnxR_6bMYoiC5Gpc3wulnWZ8S_4AIhPe380phctPjEBKAEov6KLWKqtZm0QXn0HjKgKwya4WDw5zXeY9CYHGjskl5E_rvXb7aHzPNtJg0bN7N_WRtBFWLDivh0TytB09G620JxE7rBA/s320/JB+at+Composers+Festival+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;">Council<span style="color: #0000ee;">lor Jeremy Birch speaking at the Compos<span style="color: #0000ee;">ers' Festival</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt;"></span>"This morning I opened the refurbishments at Summerfields
Leisure Centre and the free family fun day. Then I visited the Moveable Feast
community garden open day and enjoyed the lunch. In the afternoon I dropped
into the Hullabaloo at St Mary in the Castle and also enjoyed the Bodies in
Urban Spaces event in the town centre as part of our Coastal Currents Arts
Festival. This evening we were all wowed by the aerial performance of As the
World Tipped on the Stade. What other town of our size can offer anything like
this? Hastings
- Famously Cultural and Famously Fun"
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was my comment about just one breathless September
Saturday. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The previous night I had opened Coastal Currents and
reminded everyone just how important the town’s cultural success is to our
all-round regeneration. And this year’s Coastal Currents really has been a
great success.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weekend before I had opened our eighth seafood and wine
festival which again was a great success. My rather corny speech concluded with
“Hastings – Famously Fresh and Famously Fishy."</div>
<br />
The weekend before that I was one of the opening speakers at
the International Composers’ Festival at St Mary’s. How pleasurable it was not
just to applaud the music and the musicians but the composers too who were with
us in the audience.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have also had a chance this month to appreciate the rich
mix that now makes up our town. I spoke at the start of the Intercultural
Organisation’s football tournament with players from many different backgrounds
participating and I opened the Hope G<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>multicultural older people’s day. And of course September has seen the
start of Black History Month with Afrikaba locally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the understanding of the importance of business has also
been to the fore with our vacuum engineering cluster fair and I spoke at the
evening reception for delegates stressing the Hastings – Famously Innovative theme.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It might have been an especially busy September but with so
much positive activity in our town surely an improving future is ours.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-15022960758479885842013-09-10T09:42:00.004-07:002013-09-10T09:42:44.179-07:00An Autumn of Action!<br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">As the night’s draw in and Summer holiday memories fade away, Hastings Borough Council is gearing up for a period of intense activity during the Autumn months.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">First of all we’ve just launched our <a href="http://www.hastings.gov.uk/housing_tax_benefits/improving_homes/energy_efficiency/switchedonhastings/">Switched-On Hastings scheme</a>. The aim is to secure cheaper energy bills for local residents. <span style="color: black;">Anyone that pays their own household electricity or gas bills including those on pre-payment meters can register their interest in the scheme. By providing the largest possible number of registered residents we will aim to get the best collective deal out of an auction with the energy companies.</span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">The lowest tariff wins the auction and this is then offered to those who have registered. Once the auction has taken place on 16 October, personal letters and emails will be sent to each registered resident explaining what the lowest offer is. There is no obligation to accept the offer but hopefully there will be some significant reductions on offer.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Then by later October new collection arrangements will kick-in for all our <a href="http://www.hastings.gov.uk/environment_planning/cleaner_hastings/waste_recycle/">waste and recycling</a>. Leaflets preparing everyone have already started to go out. The changes will include</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"> doorstep collection of glass, the acceptance of nearly all plastics, tetrapaks etc in the recycling and the distribution of 7,000 seagull-proof bags to most properties in the black bag areas.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">These changes will be coming in from 21<sup style="line-height: 17px;">st</sup> October although the new boxes for glass and the seagull-proof bags should be distributed before then. The aim of these is to almost double Hastings recycling rate to 50%. The aim is also to improve street cleanliness by having our waste in bins or in the new seagull-proof bags.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">On 18<sup style="line-height: 17px;">th</sup> October with the police we will be launching a ban on the sale of the heavy duty beers and ciders – above 6.5%. The ban will affect all off-licences in Central St Leonards, the town centre and the Old Town. Although it is a voluntary ban it will be backed up with the power to review the licenses of any establishment that doesn’t join in and then attracts nuisance and anti-social behaviour.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">At our cabinet on 4<sup style="line-height: 17px;">th</sup> November we are going to be discussing registering all privately-rented property in the town to give the council more control over housing conditions and the management of rented properties, whether large or small.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">Linked to this we are preparing to convene a conference before Xmas of seaside towns along with London boroughs to discuss the potential problem of families on benefits being sent out of higher-rent areas into places like Hastings.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">And we are working up the plans to introduce electronic signs to indicate which car parks are full and directing drivers to the other car parks, improved signage for pedestrians to find their way round the town (including from car parks once they’ve parked), new paving for the town centre to get rid of the patchwork of black top and red top and improvements to the shopping area.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">Pretty quiet time all in all!<b></b></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-910205593780583112013-08-14T01:31:00.002-07:002013-08-15T04:06:09.192-07:00Handing over the Pier<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4gEr2VHB1OPXkDFnlktW4jZriq0k3dpizMb9zY4nXYjKuNGq7FXRvILdUGxVTRf7U3Mse-K2ibQ_n-4IzTVYBB-s_Pc5Ssg3CgRTMTHirhZBkV-pmsSaqmuXOL_3ZzjOu6kZo8N3DnY/s1600/Jeremy+Pier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4gEr2VHB1OPXkDFnlktW4jZriq0k3dpizMb9zY4nXYjKuNGq7FXRvILdUGxVTRf7U3Mse-K2ibQ_n-4IzTVYBB-s_Pc5Ssg3CgRTMTHirhZBkV-pmsSaqmuXOL_3ZzjOu6kZo8N3DnY/s320/Jeremy+Pier.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Councillor Jeremy Birch hands over the Pier</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When
I was 16 I had a job for the Summer sweeping up on Hastings Pier – my special
skill was using a scraper attached to a broom handle for taking the chewing gum
off the floor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now I can pick up my broom handle again, return to those decks
for Hastings Pier is set to rise up from the ashes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
town said it wanted the Pier restored – and the council and the Pier Trust have
made sure it can happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
council’s compulsory purchase was completed and the Pier handed over to the
Pier Trust who can now start to utilise the £13 million they have mainly from
Heritage Lottery, but with other funds from the council and from bids we have
put in for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Everyone
who has been involved in the Pier Trust over a number of years has done a
fantastic job. They kept the faith even when we stood helpless watching the
flames consume one section after another on that night in 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Just
imagine what our seafront would be like if the Pier wasn’t restored but just
rotted and disintegrated bit by bit with every Autumn storm. As it became more
dangerous we might have had to put up the millions needed to demolish it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Instead
it will be restored and become an attraction again. New businesses will be
looking to locate on the Pier and others will see that part of the seafront as
a new, reviving area to put their money into. It can help draw visitors further
along our seafront to White Rock and towards St Leonards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Some
national newspapers wrote when they printed those very photogenic pictures of
the Pier fire that its destruction was symptomatic of the decline of the seaside
resort and of Hastings. Well we can show them that the repair and re-opening of
our Pier is an indication of the revival of Hastings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Of
course the transfer of ownership and the starting of repair work is only a beginning.
Further investment is needed to create the attractions and venues that the Pier
will need to make the difference to the seafront that we all want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But
we are on the way. Now where’s that chewing gum scraper gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-84019335312130239852013-08-02T01:00:00.004-07:002013-08-02T01:00:56.836-07:00Are you satisfied?<span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;">It's a question we and our partner organisations ask thousands of residents every two years as part of a survey that's designed to help us improve and refine our services.</span><br style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;">This time we're calling the survey <a href="http://www.hastings.gov.uk/decisions_democracy/voting_petitioning_having_your_say/consultation/current_consultations/#place_survey">Our Work, Your Life</a> because each of the services we provide is connected in some way to everyday life in Hastings & St Leonards. </span><br style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;">Whether it's keeping our parks clear of litter and running regular community events on the Stade, or dealing with planning applications and helping get young people get their first job, our services are important to the residents of this town. </span><br style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;">But there are always things that can be improved or adjusted. That's why we need you to help us fine tune the work we do.I won't settle for services that are anything less than the best they can be and neither should you. </span><br style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 16px;">So please tell us what you think via our <a href="http://www.hastings.gov.uk/decisions_democracy/voting_petitioning_having_your_say/consultation/current_consultations/#place_survey">short survey</a>. We'll even enter you into a prize draw for up to £100 in shopping vouchers! </span>Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-1391867295342798982013-06-27T04:38:00.000-07:002013-06-27T04:50:07.120-07:00Facing up to the financial challengeNaturally I am worried about the latest public spending cuts announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his comprehensive spending review. <br />
<br />
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Local government takes the largest reduction with a 10% cut in 2015/16 on top of the 33% cut it has already experienced. But things are worse for Hastings. The council has already had to cope with a 50% cut in the grants it receives from central government since 2010; 10% more will be very challenging. <br />
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This is because the extra grants the council has received due to the town’s extra needs have been cut still more extensively. Hastings is one of seven councils that have experienced the largest reduction in revenue spending power. And the remaining extra grant the council gets (for efficiency support) runs out in 2015 – so that could really be a very difficult budget year.<br />
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For the current financial year 2013/14 the council had to shed 40 posts (although we managed to limit the number of compulsory redundancies to less than a handful) and in fact employs about one third less staff than in 2010.<br />
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Hastings is more vulnerable to cuts in government grants than other south eastern councils as half its income comes from the government. Other areas with more properties in higher council tax bands raise more money from their local people. In Hastings most properties are in council tax bands A and B and the tax is based on the value of people’s homes.<br />
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Also we are quite a constrained local authority area – surrounded by the sea and areas of outstanding natural beauty. That means our capacity to allow for new housing is much less than some leafier areas. But the government incentives councils to allow for more housebuilding by paying a new homes bonus for each new home. So Hastings stands to make a lot less than others through this funding source.<br />
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Yet at the same time demand on council services is rising with homelessness figures rising for example, with residents facing more challenges retaining their homes with welfare and benefit changes.<br />
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But we haven’t just been sitting back and complaining. Our two major contracts – for waste collection and for parks and gardens – have been relet in partnership with other councils saving us £1m a year. We have re-organised the senior management in the council saving £350,000 a year and we have looked at every area of our activity to make it as efficient as possible.<br />
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But from 2015 I am still worried that whereas up to now we have asked local people which services they would least like to see reduced, with our income continuing to decline we may have to look at which services do we cease to deliver at all.<br />
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<br />Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-40722533775256338382013-06-19T04:13:00.001-07:002013-06-21T12:05:20.997-07:00City of culture - the work goes on<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cultural evening at Stade Saturdays</td></tr>
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Unfortunately we've just missed out on being shortlisted for the UK City of Culture - the final four are Dundee, Leicester, Hull and Swansea. I believe from a standing start a real quality bid was worked up in a short space of time. Local authority staff, our cultural advisers, our schools and many local people put a lot of effort in to make the bid what it was. We cannot let that momentum dissipate.</div>
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Some really outstanding ideas emerged from all that energy. The cultural collaboration agreed between our secondary schools, the idea of putting artists or performers into every school really stand out. And on the national plane the idea of the cultural long-march from Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire down to Hastings, retreading the steps of Harold and his army in 1066, really gripped the imagination.</div>
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We may not be the city of culture but Hastings with its surrounding 1066 area remains the most famous town in the country. We intend to build on that and on the enthusiasm created locally by the bid to see which of the projects in the bid we can still deliver. But we are looking now to 2016 - the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. We only went with 2017 because that was the city of culture year.</div>
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I believe the Hastings and 1066 brand can still get public and private funding for major cultural initiatives even without the city of culture badge, And that’s the challenge now before us,</div>
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And don’t forget we have been shortlisted for the Academy of Urbanism top town award and we find out if we have got that in November. In fact I had to appear on BBC Radio Derby to discuss our merits along with representatives of the other two on the shortlist, Buxton and Cork.</div>
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Just going for the city of culture has put us on the map, has raised the positive profile of Hastings in TV, radio and the press. We couldn’t have paid for the publicity it has brought us. Now we will work up our own plans to continue promoting this image recognising that culture remains a vital lever to move our area on.</div>
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<br />Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-62526177443133730042013-06-14T03:39:00.001-07:002013-06-14T11:23:54.713-07:00A week in the life of a city of culture<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The opening of the Jerwood Gallery</td></tr>
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With just days to go before the UK City of Culture 2017 shortlist is announced, Hastings & 1066 Country is celebrating a week of top news to strengthen its case to be included in the final four.</div>
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In the last few days TV and radio star Graham Norton has added his public endorsement for the bid, joining Keane and Eddie Izzard who have already pledged their support. “Being named city of culture is an enormous honour for any area but I can think of nowhere more deserving than 1066 country,” Graham enthused. “Bexhill and Hastings and the surrounding areas are packed to bursting with energy, creativity and attractions. Make it official and declare 1066 country the City of Culture.”</div>
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Part of the attractions and creativity is the town's Jerwood Gallery with its nationally important collection of 20th and 21st century art. This week the building has been recognised for its architectural excellence in the Royal Institute of British Architects annual awards.</div>
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Just along the seafront from Jerwood is the location for a major new public art feature and again just this week the winning design has been announced. By next Spring Henry Krokatsis’ Helter Skelter will be in place – a 13-metre high commission that will really stand out on the shoreline. A little further along the promenade is the burnt out Hastings Pier and the Pier Trust has just announced that the restoration and rebuilding will start by the end of July.</div>
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Just one of these events would be news in itself, but to get three major announcements in as many days is quite incredible, and is evidence of just how strong our bid is. And only a week ago Hastings was voted finalist in the top town category by the prestigious Academy of Urbanism.</div>
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There is already huge interest in our bid with its 1066 cultural long march retreading Harold’s steps of 950 years and groundbreaking plans to develop world class cultural education in our local schools</div>
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Large cities would be proud of achievements such as these, and we've done all this ourselves. I say let us be UK City of Culture 2017 and we will really put on a show that won't be forgotten!</div>
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Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-86126072514103559172013-05-17T06:12:00.001-07:002013-05-17T06:15:13.626-07:00Programme for an interventionist council<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the mayor-making lunch</td></tr>
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If it’s May it must be the council’s annual meeting. We hold this in two parts – the first being the ceremonial with the election of the mayor and deputy mayor, Cllrs Roberts and Dowling respectively this year.</div>
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This was followed by a lunch (which we all paid for if anyone is in doubt) with food from several countries allowing us to slightly adapt our community cohesion slogan to “One Hastings, many flavours.” There was also entertainment from different communities and cultures within the town.</div>
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The second part of the annual meeting is the political part where I as council leader outline the programme for the year.</div>
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I outlined how over the next year Hastings Borough Council will continue to be an interventionist council, getting stuck in to improve the town and its residents’ prospects. It’s this willingness to act determinedly and decisively that marks out this council leadership from others.</div>
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We will compulsorily purchase the Pier to allow work to start to restore this key seafront structure. We will get 50 or more scruffy or derelict buildings improved by our grotbuster squad. We will continue our programme of bringing long-term empty homes back into use, including by the threat of compulsory purchase. Number 4 Southwater Road has just been compulsorily purchased and two more properties will be similarly dealt with very soon.</div>
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The council will license another 250 houses in multiple occupation in the next year, to improve conditions for private tenants. And in Central St Leonards the Coastal Space scheme will see a number of privately rented properties purchased and taken on by Amicus Horizon housing association.</div>
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The council will be looking into establishing its own lettings agency for accredited local landlords to ensure a better deal for them and their tenants. We will be studying how some other councils have gone done this path.</div>
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Our new street cleaning and waste collection contract starts this Summer and it will offer improvements to keeping the town clean but will also introduce doorstep recycling of glass and of a wider range of plastics. Seagull-proof bags will be distributed widely in those parts of town without wheelie bins.</div>
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We plan to step up the pressure for more 20mph speed limits in the borough on residential streets where there is the support from local residents. And our Switched On Hastings initiative will offer local people cheaper energy bills through collective switching to the company offering the best bulk purchase deal.</div>
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Our council has a programme for the revival of our town, for raising its image nationally especially by promoting our cultural offer, for attracting in new investment, for improving the employability of local people especially the young.</div>
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We will intervene to make Hastings and St Leonards cleaner, safer, more prosperous and more contented.</div>
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<br />Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-33887902883825487782013-05-08T10:32:00.001-07:002013-05-09T00:45:57.981-07:00Hastings at odds with William HillBookmakers William Hill have placed the Hastings city of culture bid as a 25 to 1 outsider to win the prize. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeremy Birch in the Jack in the Green parade</td></tr>
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One might ask what does William Hill know about culture; I doubt they have read our bid or know much about what goes on in our community. On the other hand it might be very good odds come November if we were to be named the winner. This year’s Grand National winner was originally quoted at 66 to 1 by William Hill.<br />
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I’m sure the other city of culture bidders who have been given closer odds to win have very good bids but I think ours will take some beating.<br />
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The weekend these odds appeared was the Jack in the Green Festival. Up to 20,000 people watched with around 10, 000 enjoying the finale on the West Hill, which overlooks our harbour and historic fishing fleet, the largest beach-launched fleet in Europe. The same day we entertained 30,000 bikers.<br />
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What town in the world could rival that mixture?<br />
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Festivals and street processions are an essential part of the culture of our community. We've got Bonfire Night, which we celebrate to mark Hastings Day in October, with over a thousand burning torches being paraded through the streets by various local groups, all in their own distinctive costumes, to rhythmic drumming; that can attract 30,000 spectators too.<br />
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We hold our Seafood and Wine Festival in September, showcasing our local produce and the Herring Fair in November. <br />
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Quality visual and performing arts are represented by the Jerwood Gallery with its nationally renowned 20th and 21st century collection and De La Warr Pavilion. And with work about to start on rebuilding our pier we will have our traditional seaside icon ready to open well before 2017.<br />
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Our bid has plans for a series of spectacular events in 2017 as city of culture. The English language and culture could be said to have begun in 1066. It all began in Hastings and in 2017 a cultural renaissance can begin again here.<br />
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<br />Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-52617582788962471222013-03-24T11:32:00.002-07:002013-03-25T02:31:47.569-07:00Hastings not a dump - it's official
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Introducing David Amess to the Hastings fishermen</td></tr>
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So Southend MP David Amess thinks Hastings is an improving and “vibrant” town – a little different to his original suggestion that some of Southend’s cultural rivals like us were “absolute dumps.” </div>
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I invited him down so he could see first-hand what we have to offer. We showed him round the Jerwood Gallery, we showed him the fishing beach and he chatted to the fishermen. We told him about our history, architecture, natural environment, artistic traditions, music scene and our annual calendar of festivals and processions - in fact everything that adds up to the Hastings cultural offer.</div>
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If that hadn’t convinced him we weren’t an absolute dump then I don’t know what would.</div>
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But will it be convincing enough for the panel that advises on the UK city of culture? We are putting a bid in for Hastings and Bexhill to get that prize for 2017. Do we really have a chance?</div>
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Well you don’t have to be a city – Southend isn’t, nor is East Kent which is also bidding and the two cities of Southampton/Portsmouth are putting in one bid.</div>
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I believe we have a good enough cultural story to tell to put forward a meaningful bid. Perhaps we wouldn’t have had five years ago, but today our bid can include Jerwood just celebrating its first birthday in Hastings, the work to restore our Pier hopefully starting by mid-year, the public consultation on a major art feature on Pelham roundabout. So actually the bid is coming just at the right time for us.</div>
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Will we win – who knows? It depends what the judges are looking for. If they want an area with geographical integrity that has placed culture, in all its many facets, at the heart of its regeneration programme then our bid could be a strong one.</div>
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Whatever happens we are making a statement about where Hastings and Bexhill believes it is going; about the cultural company we are now in. And the greater that is recognised, the better our external image is, the more people will be interested in visiting here, moving here and investing here and bringing jobs here. This is about the general prosperity of our area.</div>
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And what encouraged me was how local people rallied round the town and its bid when the MP for Southend appeared to criticise us.</div>
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<br />Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-67939865481878116542013-03-05T01:02:00.002-08:002013-03-05T01:02:43.594-08:00Famously cultural
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A couple of years ago BBC’s Newsnight ‘adopted’ our seafront
roundabout with the fountain as its centre piece. It was a stunt to demonstrate
if the big society could takeover and run council functions. I had to
ceremonially hand them the ‘key to the roundabout’ – thought quite what they
were going to unlock I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But that roundabout is in a very high profile position on
the seafront between old and new towns. What a fantastic location for something
really special. And that’s what Hastings is going to get.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks to the very substantial generosity of the Fairlight
Arts Trust set up by David and Sarah Kowitz a major new piece of public art is
to be created in the middle of the roundabout. Two internationally renowned
artists have been shortlisted and their designs will now be going on public
display so we can all think about what is on offer. Then one of the designs
will become the chosen art feature. The council will make sure the appearance
of the roundabout itself is appropriate to welcome the art feature. I expect
national interest in this major art installation and once more our town will be
centre stage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just think – a year ago the Jerwood Gallery opened also
helping to put us very much on the national cultural map. The gallery’s
exhibition has just been totally refreshed with other paintings from Jerwood’s
permanent collection. And I hope everyone has <a href="http://www.famouslyhastings.com/live/votejerwood/">voted for the gallery</a> to <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">host the Museums at Night an event with
Turner Prize nominees the Hastings born and bred Jake and Dinos Chapman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Back in time a
little further about two and half years ago – the town again hit the national
headline as fire engulfed our Victorian Pier. Now with the <a href="http://www.famouslyhastings.com/invest/pierrises/">success of the bid</a>
to Heritage Lottery and the council’s bid for Coastal Communities money, the
Pier Trust is almost at the point of setting the start date for work to restore
the Pier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">So Jerwood and
the <a href="http://www.famouslyhastings.com/live/stade/">cultural and historic Stade</a>, the Pelham roundabout with an international
quality art feature and then on to a restored Pier – that will be some
promenade. Won’t people outside the town be talking about Hastings?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-10641840670070178842013-01-18T00:10:00.001-08:002013-02-06T06:35:21.821-08:00Budget Blog<!--StartFragment-->
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Hastings Borough Council is facing an unprecedented
financial challenge – not just for the coming year but for the foreseeable
future. We have now published our spending plans for 2013-14 and will be
listening to residents’ and businesses’ comments before agreeing the final
budget on 27<sup>th</sup> February.<o:p></o:p></div>
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With reductions in funding from central government the
council is facing an 8.8% cut in its revenue spending power for next year – the
maximum reduction the government has set and the largest in the South of England.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since 2010 the council has seen a 50% real term reduction in
funding from central government once inflation is taken into account (39% in
cash terms).<o:p></o:p></div>
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We have already taken major steps to make ourselves more
efficient – centralising all council staff in just two buildings (Aquila House
and the Town Hall) and sharing some services with other councils.We have saved £1 million a year from reletting our major
contracts jointly with other councils for waste collection and for parks and
gardens. We have re-organised our senior staff structure saving £375,000. And
there was no pay rise for staff again last year. But all of this has only gone
some way to balancing our budget.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To bridge the gap, we are proposing to lose 40 posts (12 of
them currently vacant), increase fees and charges (planning fees
will rise by 15%), reduce our tourism budget by £50,000 and reduce our support
for events by £20,000. We are also proposing to reduce grants to the voluntary sector by 8.8%
in line with the cut in our revenue spending power. Proposed new
arrangements for the housing register could save over £50,000.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Parking charges in the council’s car parks have not risen
for two years but we are proposing to increase them by 10p an hour and then freeze them for two years
again. This would help to fund the continuation of CCTV in the car parks.<br />
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For over ten years CCTV monitoring in Hastings has partly
been supported from the surplus made from on-street parking charges. The County
Council has taken back responsibility for on-street parking and handed over
enforcement to a private company NSL. The County Council will no longer allow
on-street parking income to be used for community safety purposes in the town. Parking charges in the Country Park will increase from £1 to
£2 for a full day but with no change to the £25 annual season ticket.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, there will be no increase in council tax this year
– it last rose four years ago. We will be taking up the government’s offer of a
grant equivalent to a 1% council tax rise and that means a 12-month freeze for
the council taxpayer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you have thoughts about our budget proposals feel free to let us know in our <a href="http://www.hastings.gov.uk/decisions_democracy/voting_petitioning_having_your_say/consultation/current_consultations/#cplan">draft budget consultation</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-48398093818797759222013-01-02T01:58:00.000-08:002013-01-06T23:50:27.824-08:00Will the sun shine on us in 2013?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5dqjhnWyAgvCRPsh96vCdE3XPm2hcSGOcMAwQmRqiAYof-QJJUZBpieHbg6e9STcWpQYKlIrrPjg8rN6ED1jifKjOFXCF7blH1fVmyw4Z7V5SExdvhIxXjosRIxKqe8oqEBsjAsaIQI/s1600/IMG00861-20130105-1428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5dqjhnWyAgvCRPsh96vCdE3XPm2hcSGOcMAwQmRqiAYof-QJJUZBpieHbg6e9STcWpQYKlIrrPjg8rN6ED1jifKjOFXCF7blH1fVmyw4Z7V5SExdvhIxXjosRIxKqe8oqEBsjAsaIQI/s320/IMG00861-20130105-1428.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the Hastings v Middlesborough tie to get underway</td></tr>
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2013 opened with glorious sunshine. On New Year’s Day the seafront was packed with promenaders as if it were a Summer’s day. The sun had appeared after what seemed weeks of being hidden behind rain clouds and stormy winds. Tragically 2012 had ended with one of the council’s close friends and collaborators sadly losing their life after an incident on that same seafront. Fran McKeown of Hastings Voluntary Action died despite the best efforts of the emergency services and passers-by to save her. She will be remembered with affection and gratitude by many of us in the town.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">So what does 2013 hold for us? Will the sun continue to shine on Hastings?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We are all eagerly awaiting work commencing to restore our Pier with the council completing the compulsory purchase now that the Heritage Lottery has come up with the £11.4 million. The calendar of festivals and events is already prepared from Fat Tuesday in February, through Jack in the Green on May Day, right through to the Seafood and Wine Festival and a second Herring Fair. And the free entertainment offered by Stade Saturdays will continue for a second year from May to September.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> I’m sure the new management arrangements for St Mary in the Castle will really come into their own in 2013.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The council will carry on getting stuck in to derelict and scruffy buildings and just now work is underway on some of the most prominent of them – like the Congregational Church on Pevensey Road and buildings on Robertson Terrace and Eversfield Place. In Ore Valley we intend going through with the compulsory purchase and demolition of the eyesore that is the old Malvern pub with the aim of creating new houses on the site.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The council will also be launching a second round of its mortgage deposit scheme offering first time buyers of existing properties the chance to get a mortgage with just a 5% deposit and not the 25% they have been fearing. We are also looking to press ahead with a major scheme with a housing association to buy up privately rented houses in multiple occupation in Central St Leonards, improve them, and change them to larger flats aiming at a more settled community.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Our new waste contract negotiated jointly with other East Sussex councils starts in the middle of this year and will bring with it doorstep collection of glass as well as of a wider number of plastics and other recyclates.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> But whatever the weather forecast for the town there is a dark cloud hanging over the council with the government’s financial settlement for local authorities. While we welcome the prospect of a new Efficiency Support Grant Hastings Borough Council is still facing the largest reduction in its revenue spending power of any council in the south of England.</span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We will carry on trying to make ourselves as efficient as possible but the budget for 2013 will inevitably see rises in some fees and charges, reductions in some council services and fewer people employed by the council. Inevitably local people will feel the impact of these changes however much we try to shield them.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There will be some major challenges in 2013 but the council leadership remains optimistic and ambitious for the town and its future.</span></div>
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Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130906691486979336.post-62332428040102727812012-12-14T01:40:00.002-08:002012-12-14T01:41:51.983-08:00Famously Fantastic! <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZOnewY3UwqLybCdmU4owpvs8I5DLJajbMjm0QbeFcYCd6Y-d6yI6IEa05s_XUMF8ZFnn9z9SuiulLvTPiB0HR_r_pu8p4pav7YKWL3l200_b3Z7KhvtW9XGA1-3DZNvbj3QRbsuKUDc/s1600/JB+&+PC+as+pirates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZOnewY3UwqLybCdmU4owpvs8I5DLJajbMjm0QbeFcYCd6Y-d6yI6IEa05s_XUMF8ZFnn9z9SuiulLvTPiB0HR_r_pu8p4pav7YKWL3l200_b3Z7KhvtW9XGA1-3DZNvbj3QRbsuKUDc/s320/JB+&+PC+as+pirates.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Councillors Jeremy Birch and Peter Chowney </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">as pirates</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB">If we’re now Famously Hastings then 2012
has truly been famously fantastic. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br />2012 was the year when the world record for
people dressed as pirates gathered in one place <a href="http://www.hastings.gov.uk/community_living/2012_events/pirate/">came home to Hastings</a> – 14,231 pirates in all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all our other famous festivals went ahead
as successfully as ever from Jack-in-the-Green in May to the bonfire procession
in October. And we added another mass celebration with 50,000 turning out to
greet the Olympic torch. <br /><br />2012 was the year that the <a href="http://www.famouslyhastings.com/visit/jerwood/">Jerwood Gallery</a>
opened its doors, offering to locals and visitors alike the best collection of
20<sup>th</sup> and 21<sup>st</sup> century art outside London. But it is also playing a major part
in improving the external image of Hastings – which is key to attracting higher
spend visitors in larger numbers, enticing people to move here or encouraging
businesses to invest in a town so obviously on the way up. <br /><br />2012 was the year<a href="http://www.hastings.gov.uk/community_living/2012_events/stade_sat/"> Stade Saturdays </a>were
launched. The Stade Open Space was home to a performance big or small every
Saturday night from May to September. Who can forget being chased over the site
by giant sea creatures as part of the massive Pi Leau performance? On other
nights we listened to string quartet or sea shanty singers. <br /><br />2012 was the year of our first <a href="http://www.famouslyhastings.com/visit/herring/">herring fair</a>in November to complement our annual seafood and wine festival in September,
which itself was the most successful yet. Let’s hope we can celebrate herring
annually too. <br /><br />2012 was the year that all the <a href="http://www.famouslyhastings.com/invest/pierrises/">hard work ofthe Pier campaigners paid off </a>with an £11.4 million grant from the Heritage
Lottery Fund to start restoring Hastings Pier as a major attraction. <br /><br />2012 was the year that the St Leonards town
team got off the ground with great plans to develop a separate attractive town
centre with the Very St Leonards slogan but still as part of our overall Famously
Hastings brand. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br />And 2012 was the year that finished with
Hastings United reaching the third round of the FA Cup - the furthest they have
ever got in their present incarnation, great for their fans and for the club’s
balance sheet.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">So what a year for our town – let’s see
what 2013 famously brings.</span></div>
Councillor Jeremy Birchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08440598162892286423noreply@blogger.com0