Mental health given resounding support at Hastings council meeting

Helping people with mental health issues was given resounding support by Hastings council on Wednesday evening (February 10).
Hastings Borough Councillor Sue BeaneyHastings Borough Councillor Sue Beaney
Hastings Borough Councillor Sue Beaney

Hastings Borough Councillors overwhelmingly backed a motion for the local authority to do more for people with mental health issues with a raft of proposals.

In the wake of the ‘disgusting’ cuts to adult social care by East Sussex County Council, as Cllr Andrew Batsford described them, Cllr Sue Beaney’s motion was unanimously agreed by the full council.

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“I think it’s clear to all of us that we need to have a better understanding of mental health and how we can help others,” Cllr Phil Scott said.

Cllrs Andrew

Cllr Beaney will become the council’s mental health champion, the Local Authorities Mental Health Challenge will be signed plus a number of other ways in which people with those issues can be supported.

The controlled delimitation of Hackney taxis was passed along with numerous measures, including grandfather rights and a working group.

These were to ensure the market does not saturated, according to the lead member for environment, leisure and amenities Warren Davies.

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A petition from taxi drivers had been received opposing the changes but it was almost unanimously agreed with one vote against.

Council leader Peter Chowney gave a rousing speech stressing the importance of the University of Brighton staying in the town.

The university is currently undergoing a review into its Hastings campus due to a lack of people enrolling.

Cllr Chowney said there is little opportunity for external input into the review but a case will be put to the university on why it should stay regardless.

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“The university in Hastings has been an essential part of the town’s regeneration and we must keep it here,” he said.

The leader said more than £12million of public money has been spent on the university for the regeneration of the town, not for Brighton.

The shared cycle path through Alexandra Park, approved by cabinet last month, was also discussed at the meeting.

Some councillors, including Maureen Charlesworth, still had reservations about its safety but most members were supportive of the scheme.

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Cllr Matthew Beaver said it was important to have signs but not too many which could ruin the park’s aesthetics. Cllr Emily Westley said as it is a free-for-all with bicycles coming from all angles, regulated cycling would make the park safer.

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