The Conservators of Ashdown Forest 2025/26 forecast outturn position and updated medium term financial plan including the 2026/27 budget

Committee report · Cabinet · Tue 27 Jan 2026 · East Sussex County Council

What it recommends

In the report's own words. A recommendation is a proposal: the meeting can agree, change or reject it.

“note the Quarter 2 budget position for the Conservators’ 2025/26 Core Budget.”
“note the Conservators of Ashdown Forest medium term financial plan.”
“approve the 2026/27 Core Budget. 1.”

What the meeting decided

The minutes record: Agreed. “RESOLVED to: 1) Note the Quarter 2 budget position for the Conservators’ 2025/26 Core Budget. 2) Note the Conservators of Ashdown Forest medium term financial plan. 3) Approve the 2026/27 Core Budget. Reasons 56.3 The report sets out the financial position of the Conservators of the Ashdown Forest (COAF) for 2025/26, against the approved budget agreed by the Board of Conservators at their meeting on 17 November 2024 and presented to Cabinet in January 2025.” minutes ↗

In plain English

Each sentence was checked against the passage it cites; how the checking works.

Recommended · This went to the meeting on Tue 27 Jan 2026. What was decided is in that meeting's minutes.

A report to Cabinet on 27 January 2026 sets out the 2025/26 forecast financial position of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest and an updated medium term financial plan, including the 2026/27 budget. p2 p3 p4

Officers recommend that Cabinet note the Quarter 2 budget position for the Conservators' 2025/26 Core Budget, note the medium term financial plan, and approve the 2026/27 Core Budget. p5 p6 p7 p8

The 2025/26 Core Budget is now forecast to have a surplus of £176,033, against an original budgeted surplus of £9,106. p11

The Countryside Stewardship budget is forecast to overspend by £88,589 this year, more than the budgeted overspend of £24,726. p14

The current 2025/26 Core Budget projections indicate that no additional contribution from East Sussex County Council will be required. p13

Show the 10 passages this is based on

p2Cabinet Date of meeting: 27 January 2026
p3By: Chief Operating Officer Title: The Conservators of Ashdown Forest 2025/26 forecast outturn position and updated medium term financial plan including the 2026/27 budget.
p4Purpose: To present the forecast financial position as at the end of 2025/26 and the updated medium term financial plan, with the 2026/27 Core budget for approval.
p5RECOMMENDATIONS: Cabinet is recommended to:
p61) note the Quarter 2 budget position for the Conservators’ 2025/26 Core Budget.
p72) note the Conservators of Ashdown Forest medium term financial plan.
p83) approve the 2026/27 Core Budget. 1 Background
p112.1 The 2025/26 original budget set out a deficit budget of £15,620, being a surplus on the Core Budget of £9,106, and a deficit on the Countryside Stewardship (CS) budget of £24,726. At the end of September t here is a forecast surplus of £176,033 in the Core budget.
p132.3 The current 2025/26 Core budget projections indicate that no additional contribution from East Sussex County Council (ESCC) will be required.
p142.4 The current Countryside Stewardship (CS) budget is forecast to overspend by £88,589 this year. This is more than the budgeted overspend of £24,726. The forecast assumes a CS funding gap from January to March 2026. However Natural England have just announced an extension of the funding which should reduce the forecast 2025/26 overspend.

Places and organisations it names

East Sussex County Council

Other papers for this meeting

Cabinet agenda · Committee agenda
Appendix 1, Cabinet · Committee report
Appendix 1, Cabinet · Committee report
Appendix 1, Cabinet · Committee report
Appendix 1, Cabinet · Committee report
Appendix 1 - Draft Council Plan 2026.27 Cabinet 27.01.26 · Committee report
Appendix 1a - Council Plan EqIA Cabinet 27.01.26 · Committee report
Appendix 2, Cabinet · Committee report
Appendix 2, Cabinet · Committee report
Appendix 2 - MTFP Update Cabinet 27.01.26 · Committee report
Appendix 3 - Budget Summary 2026-27 DRAFT Cabinet 27.01.26 · Committee report
Appendix 4a - Savings 2026-27 to 2028-29 Cabinet 27.01.26 · Committee report
Auditor's Annual (Value for Money) Report on East Sussex County Council 2024/25 · Committee report
Devolution and establishment of Mayoral Combined County Authority · Committee report
Minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2025 · Committee report
Cabinet minutes · Committee minutes
Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR): Draft Council Plan 2026/27, Revenue Budget and Capital Programme · Committee report
Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2026/27 · Committee report

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