West Sussex County Council planning for 2026/27 ‘extremely challenging’
Demands in social care and SEND have been highlighted.
West Sussex County Council’s leader, Paul Marshall, has described planning for the 2026/27 year as "extremely challenging," citing uncertainty and rising demands in social care and SEND.
Mr Marshall was speaking at a scrutiny committee meeting on 28th January as the council discussed its extended corporate plan – the Council Plan – which sets priorities and targets for performance evaluation.
Originally set to run from 2021 until 2025, the plan has been extended due to the upcoming changes in local authority structures, with West Sussex County Council set to be dissolved in 2028 for a new unitary authority or authorities.
The plan initially focused on four priorities: safeguarding vulnerable people, building a sustainable and prosperous economy, supporting communities and individuals in reaching their potential, and ensuring resources are used effectively. A fifth goal has now been added: maximising the benefits of devolution and local government reorganisation.
Targets under the Council Plan range from improving educational outcomes, such as the percentage of children reaching expected levels in reading, writing, and maths, to public health initiatives like smoking cessation, and the percentage of roads judged to be in good condition.
To help achieve these goals, West Sussex County Council has initiated several transformation programmes under the name Connected Council. These programmes aim to improve efficiency, connectivity, and responsiveness to residents' needs, while also delivering £5.9m in savings for the 2026/27 budget.