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Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR): Update on planning for 2027/28

Committee report · Cabinet · Tue 29 Sep 2026 · East Sussex County Council

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Cabinet is due to consider, on 29 September 2026, an update on planning for 2027/28 under the Council's Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) process. p1p2p3

The report states that initial forecasts suggest the Council will need further Exceptional Financial Support in 2027/28 to fund an expected deficit of £74.2 million. p11

A further update report is due to come to Cabinet in November, and the final Council Plan and Budget for 2027/28 is due to be decided by Full Council in February 2027. p50

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  • p1Report to: Cabinet Date: 29 September 2026
  • p2By: Chief Executive Title of report: Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR): update on planning for 2027/28
  • p3Purpose of report: To provide an update on the RPPR planning position and consider areas for future savings.
  • p11External assurance review, 2026-27 - GOV.UK and is attached at Appendix 1, and supports the formal approval for £70m EFS for 2026/27. The reports state that we have “sound and well-established financial management arrangements” and “the council is lean and has low cost services and functions”. The report also recognises the specific challenges facing East Sussex given the imbalance between demand and funding levels. It highlights the higher levels of deprivation in parts of the county, our ageing population and infrastructure constraints, which lead to greater service delivery pressures and a reduced ability to obtain additional income from our local economy. It also references that we adopt best practice and embrace innovation in service delivery. The report includes 12 recommendations which we will be required to report on regularly back to MHCLG, the first report by the Chief Finance Officer is required by the end of September 2026. The recommendations from the two CIPFA reports are set out in Appendix 2. 2.3 A detailed Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) will be developed over the autumn. However initial forecasts suggest that based on current levels of demand and inflation, EFS support will be required for 2027/28 to fund an expected deficit of £74.2 million. Any decision to seek further EFS would need to be carefully considered, given that servicing the debt would put further pressure on our revenue budget. However, given the gap between forecasted income and the minimum cost of meeting our statutory duties, it will not be possible to deliver essential services without further EFS. This means that it is important that we continue to take steps to minimise the forecasted deficit and therefore the amount of EFS that we will need to seek. Engagement has started with MHCLG regarding EFS for 2027/28, however, the mechanism and basis for future years’ EFS is subject to review.
  • p507. Next Steps 7.1 A further update report will be brought to Cabinet in November which will include an overview of the latest national policy and financial context, our latest assessment of the Council’s medium term financial plan position and an update on the capital programme. 7.2 Members will shape draft plans as they are developed through Cabinet, County Council, Scrutiny Committees, Whole Council Forums and specific engagement sessions throughout the 2026/27 Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources process. The final Council Plan and Budget for 2027/28 will be decided by Full Council in February 2027. BECKY SHAW Chief Executive

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