Council seeks views on cutting care for elderly

East Sussex County Council is seeking views on plans to cut £4m from its adult social care budget

A cash-strapped council is seeking views on plans to cut almost £4m from its adult social care budget.

East Sussex County Council’s cabinet agreed on Thursday to go out on consultation on potential cuts to day centres for elderly and disabled people, drugs and alcohol recovery and housing support for vulnerable people.

The potential cuts, which total £3.994m, come as the council prepares to face a projected budget gap of £83.6m over the coming three years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Council leader Keith Glazier said the report was “one of the most difficult” he’d had to deal with.

“The financial situation we are now facing, due mainly to increases on social care, be that adults or children, are totally out of the control of this organisation,” he said.

“We’ve got cost increases in children’s placements of 96% over the last 20 years and in adults 40%. The amount of increase we’ve had in council tax and government grant gets nowhere near that.”

'Least worst options'

The council report said "significant savings" needed to be made in adult social care, which is 48% of the budget.

The proposed cuts include the closure of the Phoenix Centre in Lewes and Milton Grange in Eastbourne.

Cuts to services for people with learning disabilities and proposals to stop on-site support in supported accommodation for vulnerable adults and adults with mental health needs were also recommended.

Labour’s group leader Chris Collier argued for alternative measures to avoid the cuts.

Council chief executive Becky Shaw said the authority was “acutely aware” of the impact the consultations and potential changes would have.

She said: “The proposals in front of you are what we consider the least worst options.

"They are absolutely no reflection of the value and quality of the services we have provided."