Questions asked over spending on historic Hastings landmark building

Cllr Julia Hilton, Hastings Borough Council’s deputy leader and lead member for regeneration, spoke about the Grade II* listed building in response to a written question from Claire Carr, a former borough councillor and chairwoman of the St Mary in the Castle Community Trust. She asked for details of council spending on the site.

Raising a supplementary question during the meeting on Monday (November 9), Ms Carr said: “It has been four years since the doors closed at St Mary in the Castle and a year since it was put on the heritage at risk register, as you well know.

“We are really pleased with the progress that has gone on and it is well-reflected in the figures. I assume these figures include the costings for the condition survey that has taken place.

“We would like to know when [a report on] it is due to come to cabinet and — if you are planning works from that condition survey — if that is going to be part of your budget planning going forward.”

Cllr Hilton said she had not received a detailed update from officers and added it was “time we had an update on the next stages.”

Cllr Hilton said: “Like you, I am really pleased to see that there has been really positive progress to bring St Mary back. Some of that work, I think, has to be done by the council to enable it to be fit for anybody to take on board at the moment.

“Without that I don’t think it would be fair to expect anyone — from whatever background — to try and tackle it. We know lots of people have tried in the past and it is not the easiest of buildings; we want to make it as easy as possible for a sustainable future.”

Cllr Carr’s written question sought details of council spending on the building. The council said it had budgeted spending of £1,937,861 on St Mary in the Castle in the 2026/27 financial year.

The majority of this is set to come forward as capital spending. It is made up of a £1,247,000 on repairs to road/roof of Pelham Crescent and a £617,000 on ‘pre-marketing works’.

To date, the council has spent £12,332 and £18,755 in these areas. A forecast shows the budget is still expected to be spent by the end of year.

The council had also planned to spend £49,150 on day-to-day revenue costs associated with St Mary in the Castle, which includes security. To date it has spent £62,452 and is expecting to spend £81,447 by the end of the financial year.

The council had also planned for a £24,711 Repairs and Renewals (R&R) budget. To date it has spent £32,351, but does not currently expect further expenditure in this area before the end of the financial year.