Appendix 1, Full Council

For decision · This went to the meeting on Tue 10 Feb 2026. What was decided is in that meeting's minutes.

The plan states that the Council is facing the most difficult financial outlook in its history, that services for the most vulnerable children and adults make up around three quarters of its budget, and that it has identified £156m of savings since 2010. p4p5

Subject to Government decisions, the plan says the Council will work with West Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council, local stakeholders and the Government to support the formation of a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex, and with district and borough councils to develop a new unitary authority for East Sussex. p7p8

The plan includes performance measures and targets as the main tool for assessing progress, with related data published each year in the State of the County report. p11p12

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• p4Ongoing cost of living challenges and the legacy of COVID-19 have had a significant impact on the lives of many people in East Sussex. A s a result of national factors beyond local control, the Council has seen a significant increase in the demand for, and cost of providing, vital services for our residents, particularly for the most vulnerable. Current and forecast economic conditions, combined with the increased demand for services contribute to a very challenging period for the Council over the coming years. The Council is facing the most difficult financial outlook in its history.
• p5The cost of providing services for the most vulnerable children and adults in the county makes up around three quarters of our budget . The Council provides good value for money but without significant additional funding the current demand for services and ongoing projections presents an increasingly difficult financial position in the short and medium term, which may impact on our ability to provide certain services. Since 2010 we have identified substantial savings of £156m, and there are few remaining options to further reduce our spending. We will continue to focus our stretched resources on helping those most in need and where we can make the most impact.
• p7We do not work in isolation. We will continue to work with all our partners to make sure there is a shared view of priorities and that we make the most of opportunities and resources available. We lobby hard to protect and promote the interests of East Sussex. The Government’s devolution plans offer the opportunity for greater decision making at a local level. Subject to Government decisions, we will work with West Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council, local stakeholders and the Government to support the formation of a new Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex.
• p8We will also take advantage of the chance to shape, with local district and borough councils, the future model of unitary local government for our area. We will work together to develop a new unitary authority for East Sussex that will build upon successes of all current councils and provide efficient and effective services, helping to improve outcomes for local people.
• p11Our planning for the years ahead continues to be underpinned by good evidence and a relentless focus on our priority outcomes and their supporting delivery outcomes. These priority and delivery outcomes shape the Council Plan performance measures and targets that are the main tool we use to assess our progress. We also keep track of a wide range of related key data evidencing local need in East Sussex.
• p12The performance measures help us assess our impact more fully and respond appropriately when we need to do so. We review this data when making our plans and publish them with our State of the County report each year. A selection of this information is provided throughout the plan and listed in more detail at the end.