HBC draws on £1.8m reserves to achieve balanced budget

It’s a tough task again at budget time for Hastings Borough Council to balance the books as government policy increasingly forces it to find its own income. For the second year running there will be a deficit of income against expenditure which will have to be covered from the reserves. Both the budget and the corporate plan for 2019/20 are available on the council’s website and residents are invited to comment on both. Nick Terdre reports.