Balancing the budget

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East Sussex County Council is looking at wide-ranging cuts in an effort to help close a £57 million gap in its financial forecasts. On Wednesday, November 13 cabinet members considered a report on the council’s planning for the 2025/26 financial year, which includes proposals to find a further £12m of new savings.

The additional savings — including staffing cuts, service reductions and increased parking fees — would come on top of the previously announced £3.994 million of adult social care cuts, which were put out to public consultation in September.

According to the report, these savings even when combined with grants, council tax increases and other projected income (expected to bring in around £28 million) would still leave a £13 million hole in the authority’s finances next year.

The report also discusses last month’s national budget, saying its overall impact on the council’s finances was “likely to be limited”. This, the report says, is because additional funding — such as an increase in the Core Schools Grant — would be balanced by increased costs in other areas, including those resulting from increases to the National Living Wage and the level of National Insurance paid by employers.

According to the report, the council expects somewhere in the region of 160 posts (130 full time equivalent) could be axed as a result of its new savings proposals. These job cuts would fall across a number of departments.

As part of the savings proposals, the council is considering ceasing its “direct climate change activity”. According to the report, this change would effectively remove the council’s ability to deliver on its decarbonisation commitment. It would also look at ceasing the Discretionary East Sussex Support Scheme (DESSS), a service which provides emergency help in exceptional circumstances.

The proposals also include plans to close or rent out parts of county hall to reduce running costs and generate rental income. The council is also looking at increasing on-street pay and display parking charges by 5 per cent.

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