East Sussex County Council is forecasting a £54 million shortfall and will consider savings proposals at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, December 16.
A report for the meeting sets out new savings totalling a little under £3.1 million, in addition to £3.2 million in ongoing savings due in 2026/27.
A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said: “It is clear that we continue to experience sustained higher demand for services, more complex needs amongst those seeking support and increased costs, particularly in children’s services and adult social care, beyond our best estimates at the time of planning for the current year.”
The council says that government funding reforms will leave East Sussex worse off, as more resources are directed to other areas.
The reforms do not account for the county’s rural character or its older population.
Despite the council’s efforts to highlight these needs, recent government funding announcements have offered “no positive news for East Sussex.”
The national budget included no new funding for local authorities, and the Fair Funding Review did not address the county’s specific challenges.
As reserves dwindle and pressure mounts on essential services, potential new savings have to be considered.
In adult social care, savings could come from support service staffing restructures, ending funding for the integrated night service when the current contract expires and reducing project support capacity.
Within children’s services, the council may review staffing in the education team and replace term-time university accommodation payments for care leavers with alternative support.
Other proposals include a review of the archive service, changes to back-office operations in the library and information service and a review of library stock.
The council also plans to cut staffing and reduce property costs, in part by moving coroner courts into Westfield House, County Hall.
If approved, the new savings would affect 150 staff posts, equal to 100 full-time roles.
The council has started talks with the government about potential Exceptional Financial Support, though this would not remove the need for further cuts.
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