Through our Local Accountability Series, Reform UK Bexhill & Battle is shining a light on how public money is being used – and sometimes wasted by local authorities. We believe that transparency, efficiency, and sound financial judgement must guide every decision that is made.
Councils must be able to show that every pound of public money is spent wisely. A decision by Bexhill Town Council (BTC) has raised questions about whether that standard is being met.
On the 27 September 2025, Bexhill Town Council hosted a lavish public event titled “Devolution – What’s It All About?” at the De La Warr Pavilion located on the Bexhill seafront. With representatives from East Sussex County Council, and Rother District Council in attendance, the aim was to explain what “devolution” could mean for local governance in Bexhill and across Rother.
While public engagement is always welcome, the cost of staging this particular event was £3,785, excluding the cost of the staff time. That figure included: £3,200 for venue hire, and £585 for a professional recording of the meeting.
According to a Freedom of Information response to Bexhill Town Council, the council did not record how many members of the public attended the event. A count at the event by an attendee, recorded only 58 attendees. The Pavilion seats 636, meaning that over 90% of the venue was empty.
Could the Event Have Been Run More Sensibly?
By comparison, several community halls in and around Bexhill, including Sidley Community Centre, St Augustine’s Church Hall, and Little Common Community Centre, can comfortably host 80 to 100 people for around £100. Had one of these venues been used, the same discussion could have taken place for a fraction of the cost. Instead, the decision to spend £3,200 on an under-attended meeting equated to spending approximately £65 per attendee.
Why It Matters
Transparency and accountability in local government start with how councils handle even small sums of public money. Residents are right to expect prudence, especially at a time when services are being cut and council tax continues to rise. This is not about criticising efforts to engage the public, but about insisting on common sense and proportionality in how that engagement happens. Reform UK believes that community events should offer maximum value to residents, not maximum cost to the taxpayer.
Reform UK will always stand for careful stewardship of public funds – and for bringing business sense back into local government.
