
Foreshore inaction fails to impress, again
The Foreshore Trust (FT) said it would defend the Stade footpath near the boating lake at the Stade Amusement Park. When (following appeals) the footpath was taken over, it did nothing significant. Reportedly the footpath is to be reopened eventually, but when, and for what hours? The Hastings Borough Council (HBC) Charity Committee did not explain. Bernard McGinley wonders what the FT is for. In early 2019 HOT ran a story with the headlineThe clarity the Foreshore Trust owes the public is missing
It still is. Recent meeting The FT and the HBC Charity Committee have identical membership: three Councillors, all members of HBC Cabinet. At present the Trustees are Cllrs Webb (Chair), Rogers and Batsford. The Charity Committee of 14 June was strange. Urgent items were an agenda item twice. The FT’s [accountant-]Protector (James Cook) was present, but said nothing. Instead the Council’s accountant spoke about the FT’s accounts. HBC’s Marketing & Major Projects Manager (Kevin Boorman) said that in response to concerns he would be giving the Coastal Users Group (CUG) news about the Stade footpath and the new fairground rides: that these are both allowed. He explained that the footpath was not a Public Right of Way, and that the owners could build up to 25 metres because they had Permitted Development Rights (PDR) following appeals to the Planning Inspectorate a few years ago. As news this was incomplete. He failed to explain how PDR was such a trump card, as there are bases for constraint and protection, the site being in the Old Town Conservation Area. He also said that he had been given assurances that the footpath would definitely reopen, eventually. He said nothing though about the timescale, and whether this would be for the Park’s opening hours, or all-the-time as before. Nothing was said about any impacts on cases HS/FA/18/01009 and HS/CD/21/00240, or enforcement enquiry ENF/21/00091. The description of case 01009 mentioned theenlargement of amusement park to incorporate land where current footpath is located
but failed to explain whose land this was or is, or the terms of any proposed incorporation.
to hold and maintain the Charity’s land for . . . the common use, benefit and enjoyment of all Her Majesty’s subjects and of the public for the time being for ever.
There is no sign that the FT has used any of its considerable resources to try to preserve or protect that land or to challenge the recent changes.

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Act in your charity’s best interests | Deal with conflicts of interest |
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Act with reasonable care and skill | Take appropriate advice when you need to, for example when buying or selling land, or investing (in some cases this is a legal requirement) |
where the pier or Foreshore Trust can attach obligations to leases in their role as landlords.
Instead the Pier (in 2017 the Best Building in Britain) is covered in buildings without permission or even retrospective planning applications, and without enforcement action — all Council, not FT issues. As for the Amusement Park, it apparently paid nothing for its extra land gained from the repurposed footpath. The FT is good at disbursements, giving to local causes, from its ample parking revenues. It is also noted for the Fat Kiosk in Eversfield Place (Ref HS/FA/14/00834) that destroyed seafront sightlines and has had just one brief tenant: a waste of £88k. (‘First, there was the affair of the untenanted Kiosk’: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, ch 38.) Also, a few years ago, there were the new beach bins that very soon washed away: more because of bad management than bad weather. Sometimes the FT’s response as a statutory consultee was not to bother commenting. Similarly there was a quiet disposal of a front corner of the Bathing Pool site. Coastal Users Group (CUG) The CUG’s criticisms were often expressed, in this this letter for instance. The CUG/FT (and Charity Committee) relationship has been dysfunctional: concerns expressed and ignored, assurances given and not fulfilled. (Eventually a liaison officer was needed.) Significant improvements as a quid pro quo apparently didn’t happen. The new lease meant to armour-plate the Trust’s position certainly didn’t happen. The new lease of 2019 will expire in just over a decade (January 2032). Able Trustees would work towards achieving a different foreshore by then.
The Trust continues to concentrate efforts on ensuring a secure and viable future for the Trust, especially in terms of maintaining and improving its assets, managing its available resources for the long term benefit of the community . . .
while the Council states of the Trust:When making decisions relating to or affecting the Charity, it must act in its best interests.
In practice however these things do not happen. The FT’s persistent noddies – complacency and evasion of accountability – are shoddinesses that need to be ended. What happened to that unobstructed access ‘by right’? And to the FT Chair’s (eventual) statement in late 2018?The footpath should remain open and accessible for public use at all times.

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1 Comment
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It seems strange that HBC councillors sit on the Foreshore Trust’s board as there often must be a conflict of interest between their two distinct roles. Do they remove themselves from such debates and votes? To further openness and transparency I would like to see the Foreshore Trust have more independent board members.
Comment by Bryan Fisher — Tuesday, Jul 13, 2021 @ 20:03