The issue of the ownership and management of public assets in Rye proved to be a thorny discussion point at last week’s Rye Town Meeting on 4 March. This has been catalysed by the upcoming major reorganisation of local government in Sussex, which will see the creation of a new mayoral tier of government, a Sussex Unitary Authority replacing the county council and the abolition of Rother District Council (RDC). Mayor Andy Stuart told the meeting that these plans remain in flux, making it very difficult to understand what role town councils like Rye will have in the new structure.
The mayor explained how Rother has now agreed to transferring a limited range of assets to Rye Town Council, most of which have been accepted, allowing the council to preserve amenities essential to the town. However, all of the assets that are currently under discussion will result in additional costs being borne by the council and its residents, through the local element of council tax (the precept) which will increase by 76p per week, or 27%, for a typical Band D property in 2026/27.
Andy Stuart went on to explain that it is cost that prompted the council to refuse to take control of the Landgate arch, despite its importance to Rye and its heritage. On the other hand, the public toilets by the station, which require either major refurbishment or a complete rebuild, are considered an essential service for residents and tourists alike, and a study is now underway to ensure a long-term future under local control. At the same time Rother continue to pursue the sale of the other three toilet facilities in Rye, a process not supported by the town council, who now expect to have to continue to pay for their maintenance until at least September.
The meeting clearly heard the frustration, both from councillors and several members of the audience, that only assets that cost money are being offered for transfer. Despite individual Rother councillors apparently expressing support, RDC officers refuse to entertain transferring anything that could help the town council fund essential services. The mayor and Councillor Hoggart stated that multiple requests to transfer at least a single car park had been repeatedly refused, fuelling concerns that anything revenue generating will be retained by the new Sussex local government structure. This suspicion has been compounded by the withdrawal from sale of the land in Tilling Green that the council, through a community land trust, was hoping to develop as social housing. The deputy mayor also expressed confidence that local management of local assets will be far more effective than control by an increasingly remote authority.
Multiple audience members expressed bemusement and anger at the intransigence of Rother in this area, vital to both residents and business in Rye, with Dominic Manning and Michael Eve both proposing escalation of this issue to a higher level. Councillor Creaser (serving both on Rye and Rother councils) agreed and stated that she also is lobbying for a fairer asset transfer programme. The mayor confirmed that further action was required and is hoping that there would be increased clarity on the future local government structure in March, enabling further discussion and escalation.
With the extensive changes in local government, accompanied by major plans for housing development, the issue of the control and management of public assets in Rye is of vital interest to Rye residents and businesses alike. Rye News will continue to focus on this issue as the story develops.
Image Credits: Peter Connock , Simon Carey CC https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/401772.