Release date: 15 October 2026
We are building a sustainable future for West Sussex, but Government funding decisions are pushing us to a tipping point
After the local elections in May, we worked swiftly to create an Alliance administration to provide West Sussex County Council with stable and committed leadership.
In that time, we have been focused on a clear objective: listening to residents and creating a sustainable council that delivers the services they need today while remaining financially resilient for the future.
That commitment is reflected in the decisions we have already taken.
We have invested a further £2.4 million in highway maintenance, recognising the importance of safe and reliable roads for residents, businesses and communities. We are maintaining a strong focus on key priorities including support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and ensuring vulnerable adults receive the care and support they need.
These are not optional services. They are some of the most important responsibilities any council has.
But delivering them is becoming increasingly difficult because of financial pressures that are largely beyond local control.
That is why I have written to Government to set out the increasingly precarious financial position facing West Sussex County Council and many authorities across the country.
West Sussex has a strong reputation for responsible financial management. Over many years we have found savings, improved efficiency and transformed services while continuing to support residents. However, there are limits to what local councils can achieve when funding reductions, increasing demand and new national obligations all arrive at the same time.
We are particularly concerned about funding changes which will remove around £30 million from West Sussex over the current settlement period, the growing costs associated with supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and the long-term financial challenges facing the SEND system.
These are not challenges created by West Sussex. They stem from national policy decisions and national systems that are under strain.
I am clear that the county council will continue to do everything in its power to manage finances responsibly and protect frontline services. That is our unwavering duty to residents.
However, despite the hard work of this administration and previous leaders, the county council can no longer continue to absorb rising costs, increasing demands, and further uncertainties and we now risk reaching the financial tipping point that pushes even the most responsible authorities beyond the limits of what can be managed sustainably.
Councils are doing all they can, and now it’s up to the Government to ensure that we are given the resources and certainty we need to succeed.
As we prepare for local government reorganisation and work to hand over sustainable services to future councils, now is the time for action, not delay.
West Sussex residents deserve a funding system that is fair, sustainable and capable of meeting the growing demands being placed upon it.
That is the message I have taken directly to ministers. I will continue making that case on behalf of the people of West Sussex.
You can read the full press release, including both letters that have been sent to Government, here.
