Ministers Approve £70million Financial Support For East Sussex County Council

Ministers have approved a request from East Sussex County Council to raise an additional £70 million through a measure known as Exceptional Financial Support (EFS).

The funding will allow the authority to set a balanced budget for the 2026/27 financial year and continue funding essential services relied upon by residents across the county.

The government’s decision recognises that existing resources were no longer sufficient to meet the council’s financial pressures.

However, the council has warned that the funding will be raised through borrowing.

While it provides short-term support, it will increase repayments in the years ahead and add further financial pressure on the authority and local taxpayers.

East Sussex County Council is one of at least 35 local authorities drawing on Exceptional Financial Support for the coming year.

The council says the move comes despite significant cost-cutting measures already being implemented.

Since 2010, it has made around £160 million in savings and service reductions.

Independent assessments have previously described the council as well run, with strong governance and the ability to deliver quality services at a reasonable cost.

However, leaders say demand for services continues to rise, particularly as the county has a high proportion of elderly residents, alongside rural communities and areas of deprivation.

The council says this highlights the need for reform of local government funding so that it better reflects the demand for services and the cost of providing them.

It believes long-term changes would allow authorities such as East Sussex County Council to plan more stable finances for the future.