East Sussex County Council Approves £693m Budget Amid Funding Pressures

East Sussex County Council has given final approval to a £693 million budget aimed at maintaining services across the county.

The budget is dependent on Government approval for the council to borrow an additional £70 million through Exceptional Financial Support, which councillors say is needed to balance the books.

Members were told that planned Government funding reforms, intended to make local authority funding fairer, are expected to leave East Sussex worse off, as more money is redirected to other areas.

Facing a predicted £56 million shortfall, councillors approved a combined Council Tax and Adult Social Care precept increase of 4.99 per cent, along with new savings of just under £3.1 million.

The council says this brings its total savings since 2010 to nearly £160 million.

Council leader Keith Glazier said increasing costs and funding pressures had left the authority with limited options.

He added that previous use of reserves means the council can no longer rely on them and is now awaiting a decision on whether it will be allowed to borrow the extra £70 million to meet its statutory responsibilities.

The council also presented its draft Council Plan, outlining priorities through to 2029.

These include proposed improvements to bus services, spending £240 million with local suppliers, replacing Exceat Bridge, launching a new business loans programme, expanding early support for families with young children, and developing joined-up health and care services for residents with complex needs.

The plan will be finalised once budget allocations are confirmed, with the completed document due to be published in March.