At a recent Bexhill-on-Sea Town Council meeting, councillors discussed the draft budget and recommended a substantial increase in the council’s portion of the Council Tax precept for 2026/27 which is significantly higher than previous years.
This comes at a time when Bexhill residents already pay some of the highest council tax in the country.
What is happening?
Town Councillors justified the proposed increase partly on plans to take on assets from Rother District Council, or potentially to purchase assets, although it has not yet been made clear which of these in intended.
Crucially, residents watching the meeting were not provided with:
- A publicly available list of assets.
- Clear information on whether the council would own the assets outright or merely maintain them.
- Any firm indication of when, or if, those assets will actually transfer in the 2026/27 tax year.
Despite this uncertainty, residents are being asked to fund the increase now.
A Major Increase with No Guarantees
One of the most concerning elements of the discussion is that the precept increase appears to be set in advance of any confirmed asset transfer.
Residents should note that:
- There was no clear commitment that the additional funds would be ring-fenced.
- There is no guarantee that the assets will be transferred during this tax year.
- If the transfers do not occur, the council would still retain the additional tax revenue unless specific safeguards are put in place.
This raises a serious question for residents: Why are households being asked to pay now for assets that may not arrive – and whose costs are not yet fully known?
Pressure Must Be Applied to Rother District Council
If Bexhill Town Council is increasing the precept specifically to cover the cost of assets being transferred or acquired, then there is a strong and reasonable expectation that Rother District Council should reduce its share of the council tax for Bexhill residents accordingly.
At present:
- Residents risk paying twice – once through the Town Council precept, and again through the District Council charge.
- There has been no clear public commitment from Rother District Council to pass on any savings to residents if assets are transferred.
- Any asset transfer must be tax-neutral for residents, not an excuse for a permanent increase in the overall council tax burden.
Residents deserve clear, written answers to the following:
- Exactly what assets are being proposed for transfer or purchase?
- Will residents own these assets through the Town Council, or simply be responsible for their upkeep?
- Will the additional precept funds be formally ring-fenced and protected if the assets do not transfer this year?
- What discussions have taken place with Rother District Council to reduce its council tax charge (Bexhill Special Expenses) if responsibilities are passed down?
Why this matters?
Bexhill residents already face:
- High council tax compared to many other parts of the country.
- Cost of living pressures.
- Limited transparency on long-term financial commitments.
Reform UK believe that any increase of this scale must be backed by full transparency, guaranteed safeguards, and a fair redistribution of costs between councils.
What you can do
- Ask for transparency: Request that asset lists, cost assessments, and ring-fencing commitments are published before final decisions are made.
- Contact both your Town and District councillors: Ask how they will ensure residents are not paying twice?
- Sign the petition for transparency and restraint: Residents should consider signing the petition demanding full transparency, detailed asset lists, and safeguards to ensure that any precept increase is justified and used only for its intended purpose.
- Share this information: Many residents are unaware of how significant this increase may be.
This article is presented by the Bexhill & Battle Branch of Reform UK in the interest of transparency, accountability, and fairness for local residents.
