A recent report warns that the council will have to find savings from its services next year unless the government urgently helps.
Mounting pressure could leave East Sussex County Council with a funding gap of £55 million next year, making it impossible to maintain the current levels of service unless a better funding deal comes forward.
On Tuesday a full council meeting was presented with the latest financial position and the annual state of the county report – a detailed look at the area’s unique characteristics which helps paint a picture of the achievements and challenges of the past year and what the council can expect in the year ahead.
A decade of cuts to Government funding has meant East Sussex has had to make nearly £140 million of savings since 2012 whilst, in recent years, demand for services and costs have risen considerably.
Council Leader, Councillor Keith Glazier, said: “Years of careful financial planning has put the county council in the best possible position to deal with the growing pressures, but we have been very clear that, without fairer longer-term funding agreements, the level of service we could offer would eventually be more severely affected.
“Having already saved more than £140 million over the last decade and worked hard to find new and efficient ways to deliver the services people rely upon, we are now at the point where even our core offer – the basic but decent level of service we feel our residents deserve, is under threat.
“In light of the unsustainable financial position we find ourselves in, we have already taken steps to reduce our day-to-day spending where possible and are constantly reviewing all areas of the council’s work to ensure we continue to make the best use of every penny we are able to spend.”
As work continues ahead of budget setting early in 2025, leaders of all parties at the county council will write to all the area’s newly elected MPs highlighting these challenges and calling for their help to preserve public services.
It will also ask for their backing for longer-term changes including;
- A reform of the Special Educational Needs and Disability system to ensure funding better matches the priority needs of children and families
- A long-term national funding settlement for social care for adults
- Limits on the profits that commercial agencies, competing directly with local authorities, can make on placing children in residential care or providing agency staff
Cllr Glazier added: “There is still some way to go before we have to set a budget for 2024/25, no decisions have been made and we would consult the public on any significant changes to services.
“We will continue to work with officers and colleagues from all political parties to ensure East Sussex’s case is made to central government, and that any decisions take into account the views of our residents and supports our four priorities – driving sustainable economic growth, keeping vulnerable people safe, helping people help themselves and making best use of resources now and for the future.”
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