Report of the Cabinet

Committee report · Full Council · Tue 13 Oct 2026 · East Sussex County Council · the whole meeting

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The report states that East Sussex County Council's revenue budget for 2026/27 is forecast to have an overspend of £4.1m by 31 March 2027. p32

It also reports that the Ashdown Forest Trust, of which the County Council is sole trustee, recorded a deficit of £91,534 in 2025/26 due to a one-off payment of £99,200 to the Conservators of Ashdown Forest to help fund a new tree safety policy. p67 p71

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p321.21 We continued to work with local partners to respond to the Government’s plans to reorganise local government in Sussex. The Government’s consultation on a variation of the One East Sussex proposal concluded in June. In July the Government announced that Peacehaven, Telscombe and East Saltdean would be incorporated into a new Brighton and Hove Council. The remainder of East Sussex, including Falmer parish would be covered by a single unitary council. Under the Government’s original plans, councillors would be elected to a shadow form of the new authority for East Sussex in May 2027, which was to run alongside the existing county and borough and district councils until April 2028 when it would become the single authority for the area. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has subsequently announced that local government reorganisation will be paused while a rapid review is undertaken. Budget Outturn 1.22 The detailed revenue projections for each department are set out in the relevant appendices which show a projected overspend of £4.1m by 31 March 2027.
p674. Ashdown Forest Trust Fund 4.1 The County Council purchased the Ashdown Forest in 1988. The land was promptly handed over to a charitable trust established by the County Council. The County Council is the sole Trustee of the charity. In acting as trustee of the Ashdown Forest Trust, the County Council must administer the Trust’s property and funds in accordance with the terms and purposes of the Trust. The Council must act in the best interests of the Trust and its beneficiaries, safeguard and properly manage the Trust’s assets, and ensure that Trust resources are applied only for the purposes for which they are held. In taking decisions as trustee, the Council must therefore distinguish its responsibilities to the Trust from its wider functions and interests as a local authority. Further information in relation to the duties for the Council as a charitable trustee can be found at: Local authorities (or councils) as trustees of charities - GOV.UK .
p712025/26 Accounts 4.5 The Trust’s Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet are set out in the attached Appendix 14. The Income and Expenditure Account shows a deficit in 2025/26 of £91,534. The deficit is due to the one-off payment of £99,200 which was paid to the Conservators of Ashdown Forest. The contribution was to help fund the implementation of the new industry standard policy for tree safety and was agreed by Cabinet in

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