"It's Not The Time For Cuts" Says East Sussex County Council Leader

East Sussex County Council says it will not be looking to make any new cuts next year, as the authority begins its annual budget-setting process.

According to papers to be considered by the county council’s cabinet on Friday (October 2),  the authority says it has no plans to identify further savings in 2021/22  ‘due to the considerable level of national funding uncertainty and the ever changing requirements to meet the response to Covid-19’.

While it may not be looking at any new savings, the council says those already in the pipeline from previous budgets will take it down to its core offer — described as its minimum reasonable service — within the next three years.

In a recent newsletter, Conservative council leader Keith Glazier said it was ‘not the time’ for further service cuts.  He said:

“Every home and every business in East Sussex has been hit by Covid-19 – often severely.

“That’s why many people are relying more than ever on public services like care for the elderly and vulnerable, support for businesses or help with education.

“Knowing this, I’m pleased to say that my intention is for East Sussex County Council to keep its core offer to residents unchanged in our next budget. 

“If agreed in February, this would be the first time in more than a decade that we’ve avoided seeking new savings. We’re still hard-pressed financially, but we think this is not the time to further reduce the services we can offer.”

Cllr Glazier’s comments have seen some pushback from opposition councillors, however.

Cllr David Tutt, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat group, said:

“I think that it is important to understand what Cllr Glazier is actually saying as he has chosen his words carefully.

“He says that they will ‘be avoiding new savings’ but fails to say that he had already announced cuts which have not been actioned.

“So will service levels be lower next year than they have been this year, due to Conservative cuts? The answer is most definitely yes.

“Cllr Glazier and I agree covid has cost all local authorities a lot financially and we will work together to get the Government to deliver on their promise to fully reimburse Councils for the cost and loss of income.

“If this doesn’t happen Cllr Glazier is planning to take the cost from reserves, which I agree is appropriate but as we both acknowledge these reserves will need to be restored in future years.

“So this is simply putting further cuts or tax increases back until after the county council elections.”

Cllr Tutt also raised concerns that proposals to update the council’s core offer are not going out for public consultation.

Part lobbying tool and part future financial planning, the core offer sets out what the council believes to be the minimum reasonable level of service it should provide.

While it does go beyond a statutory minimum service — i.e. the services the council is required to provide by law — it is significantly stripped back. 

The wording of the core offer could be set to undergo some changes as a result of Covid-19, with some extra services added to reflect the council’s new pressures and responsibilities.

References to the provision of drugs and alcohol services and sexual health could be removed, meanwhile, to be replaced with a catch-all promise to commission ‘public health services that meet the needs of local communities’.

A section on reducing public health costs is also set to be removed.

Cabinet members will be asked to agree to these changes at Friday’s meeting.

Cllr Glazier said:

“I won’t deny that the core offer we plan to protect next year is basic: there’s so much more I wish we could do.  

"But it’s an achievement to be able to propose no further reductions for now, at a time when many people particularly need support.

“We still face huge uncertainty – a shortfall of almost £22 million by 2024 unless the government responds better to the needs of people in East Sussex.

“Nor do we fully know the long-term effects and costs that Covid-19 is having on our county. Rest assured that I will keep government ministers aware of our difficult situation.

“In the meantime I hope stability in our level of services, the plans we have together for East Sussex to reset and recover and, above all, the talents and energy of the people who live and work here can encourage us all through these difficult times.”