Conservative-led East Sussex County Council will spend £579.6 million on vital services after agreeing a budget, while continuing to press central government for "fair, sustainable funding to meet the requirements of residents".
At a meeting of the full council today, councillors voted with a majority of four to approve the proposed budget and Council Plan for 2024/25.
To address the significant funding gap resulting from increased costs and demand for services, as well as long-term reductions in Government funding, the council agreed to use £11.4 million of its limited reserves as well as savings of £13.5 million to set a balanced budget.
The agreed Council Plan details ambitious and realistic targets for all key areas.
Conservative Cllr Keith Glazier (pictured), leader of East Sussex County Council, said: “Whilst we have no choice but to make significant savings, increase council tax and use our limited reserves to agree a budget for the coming year, we will be able to spend a significant amount of money delivering the services that our residents rely upon.
“Every decision we have made in this budget fits with our key priorities - driving sustainable economic growth, keeping vulnerable people safe, helping people help themselves, and making best use of resources now and for the future.”
Under the approved budget residents will be asked to pay an additional 4.99 per cent in the county council’s share of Council Tax, which includes the additional two per cent for adult social care allowed by Government.
This would mean a Band D home would pay an additional £1.70 per week in Council Tax for services including roads, schools, social care and libraries.
Despite the financial pressures, the council continues to make necessary investments in services to meet the needs of local residents.
The council agreed an additional £55 million to its annual spending for East Sussex for 2025/26 to adapt to the growing demand for, and cost of, services, though it is not being funded to match the increased spending.
The Council Plan, published with the budget, sets out in more detail how services will be provided and how their effectiveness can be monitored.
Cllr Glazier continued: “In recent years, we have seen huge increases in the need and demand for statutory, demand-led services for vulnerable children and adults. These core services account for around three quarters of the council’s budget and the cost to maintain them has increased significantly.
“Asking residents to pay more council tax and proposing savings we know will have significant and wide-ranging impacts on the people of East Sussex are not decisions we take lightly and have been made out of necessity given the financial position we face.”
With reserves only available to use once, and further savings almost impossible, councillors were warned that without a significant and permanent increase in funding, the council will have to consider more extreme options in 2026/27 and beyond, including seeking Exceptional Financial Support from Government.
Cllr Glazier added: “Delivering more savings and using further reserves to balance the books is an unsustainable position. We will continue to make our case to Government to highlight the specific needs of East Sussex and to press for fair, sustainable funding that enables us to meet the requirements of our residents for essential services, now and in the future.”
