[9] Eastbourne became a non-metropolitan district on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, with East Sussex County Council once more providing county-level services to the town.

In those areas, town planning is the responsibility of the South Downs National Park Authority.

Political control of the council since the 1974 reforms has been as follows:[15][16] The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Eastbourne.

The building was designed by William Tadman Foulkes, and built between 1884 and 1886 under supervision of Henry Currey, the Duke of Devonshire's architect.

[40] The council has its main offices nearby at 1 Grove Road, a large building which also includes a library and theatre.

[41] That building was completed in 1964 on a site which had been occupied by the previous library and fire station, which were both destroyed in 1943 during the Second World War.