Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) - update on planning for 2026/27 and beyond
What it recommends
- “i. note the updated policy context as set out in paragraph 2; ii. note the updated Medium Term Financial Plan as set out in paragraph 3 and appendix 1; iii. note the reserves summary set out in paragraph 3; iv. note the CIPFA Assurance Review report and recommendations at appendix 2 and the proposed response to recommendations at appendix 3; v. note the capital programme update as set out in paragraph 6 and appendix ”
What the meeting decided
The minutes record: Noted. “RESOLVED to: 1) note the updated policy context as set out in paragraph 2 of the report; 2) note the updated Medium Term Financial Plan as set out in paragraph 3 and appendix 1 of the report; 3) note the reserves summary set out in paragraph 3 of the report; 4) note the CIPFA Assurance Review report and recommendations at appendix 2 and the proposed response to recommendations at appendix 3 of the report; 5) note the capital programme update as set out in paragraph 6 and appendix 4 of the report; 6) agree that…” minutes ↗
In plain English
Recommended · This went to the meeting on Tue 11 Nov 2025. What was decided is in that meeting's minutes.
Officers have recommended that Cabinet agree for officers to bring forward further savings proposals as part of work towards a balanced budget for 2026/27, and to receive a further update on the planning position, including proposed savings, in December. p10p11
The report says that because of the scale of the deficit and the limited scope for further savings, there is no realistic path to a balanced budget, and the Council needs to prepare to request Exceptional Financial Support from Government. p72
Officers have also recommended that Cabinet note recent lobbying activity and agree to keep pressing Government for sustainable funding to meet the needs of East Sussex residents. p12
Show the 4 passages this is based on
- p10vi. agree that officers bring forward further savings proposals as part of work towards a balanced budget for 2026/27;
- p11vii. agree to receive a further update on the planning position, including proposed savings, in December; and
- p12viii. note recent lobbying activity and agree to continue pressing Government for sustainable funding to meet the needs of the residents of East Sussex.
- p723.8 Given the scale of the projected deficit and the limited scope for further savings, there is no realistic path to setting a balanced budget. As a result, the Council needs to prepare for requesting Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) from Government. EFS is not ‘free’ money to the Council as it would involve either borrowing to fund revenue (day to day service) costs and/or increasing Council Tax by an additional amount above the referendum limit which is already factored into the MTFP.