News and events

Budget 2026-2027 update 

West Sussex County Council’s proposed budget for the year ahead is expected to be endorsed by its Cabinet next week, before going to Full Council for final approval.

Proposals to address a previously reported budget gap of £16.3m and balance the budget were today (Wednesday 28 January) set out at the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee.

The draft budget will now go to a meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday 3 February before going to Full Council on Friday 20 February. Both meetings will be held in public at County Hall, Chichester, and can be viewed online via a webcast.

Leader of West Sussex County Council, Councillor Paul Marshall, said: “The county council is continuing to face a significant financial challenge, with rising demands, escalating costs, and increasingly complicated needs - particularly in social care and special educational needs and disabilities.

“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to balance the budget, and we know these challenges will continue in the years ahead. 

“We’ve managed our finances sensibly and have thankfully been able to successfully balance the budget for the coming year. This is despite the added pressure of the government reducing our funding by £30m over the next 3 years and redistributing elsewhere in the country as part of its fairer funding settlement. 

“It’s therefore more essential than ever that our limited resources are carefully aligned with the priorities in Our Council Plan to ensure we provide effective services which offer maximum value for our residents.”

The county council is expected to spend £2.3 billion on day-to-day services in 2026-27. This includes a net revenue increase of £34.7m compared to the previous year to meet increasing demand pressures and costs, particularly in social care and home to school transport.

Councillor Jeremy Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, said: “As the pressures facing the county council outweigh the funding we receive, balancing the budget has been extremely challenging and has only been possible by introducing the government’s presumed 4.99% increase in council tax alongside budget reductions of £30.4m.

“Not increasing council tax by the full 4.99% would mean we would lose out on funding the government assumes is available to deal with pressures. 

“Our proposed budget includes an additional £16.9m for service pressures and £26.8m for pay and price inflation as well as a proposed £142.3m of capital expenditure.”

The proposed 4.99% council tax increase is made up of 2% for Adults’ Social Care and 2.99% for other services.

With the Government’s proposed Local Government Reorganisation across Sussex, to establish new unitary councils by 2028, the county council is extending the current Council Plan until 2028, with an additional fifth priority added to reflect the importance of maximising benefits from devolution and local government reorganisation. 

The five key priorities for 2026-27 are therefore: 

1. • Keeping people safe in vulnerable situations;
   • A sustainable and prosperous economy;
   • Helping people and communities fulfil their potential;
   • Making best use of resources;
   • Maximising the benefits of devolution and local government reorganisation for residents and communities.

The five priorities are all underpinned by the cross-cutting theme of ‘protecting the environment’.

To support the delivery of the Council Plan the county council has launched several new transformation programmes, collectively known as Connected Council to further improve how the council operates, make services more efficient, and more responsive to the needs of residents. This work builds on past successes and existing strengths which are evidenced by recent very positive inspections of adults, children’s and Fire & Rescue services. 

Cllr Hunt added: “While 2026-27 shows a balanced position, there remains a budget gap of £72.5m between 2026-27 and 2030-31 assuming a full 4.99% council tax increase in these years. Local government reorganisation is expected to come into effect in April 2028 and will see efficiency savings through the local consolidation of services. However, we will need to continue to prudently manage and deliver balanced budgets until new local government structures are in place.   

“We will continue lobbying with local, regional, and national partners to ensure the government understands the needs of West Sussex residents, businesses, and communities.”

Read more about the budget setting process at www.westsussex.gov.uk/budget

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ENDS

For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected]. For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415.

Please be advised that West Sussex County Council has received a request for Temporary Traffic Regulation as follows (please click link): https://api-gb.one.network/downloads/tm/1139/early-warning-notice-broad-street-cuckfield_147617028_4053376_2ac89fd2bc.pdf

The application is currently being processed, please be aware that the details are subject to change.

For any questions regarding this TTRO, please email [email protected]

Yours faithfully,

Highway Network Management Team

Location: Room 102, County Hall, Chichester PO19 1RQ E-mail: [email protected]

Report a problem with a road or pavement or raise a highways related enquiry

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that from the date specified below, West Sussex
County Council has temporarily closed to all traffic High Street, Cuckfield, in the Mid Sussex District under Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, on High Street for a distance approx. 15 metres

The emergency temporary closure commenced on 15th January 2026 for a maximum of 21days. It is anticipated that works will be completed on 19th January 2026. The road closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while South East Water undertakes repair's to Burst Main.

The restriction will be in place 24hrs.

An alternative route will be signed on site.

For information regarding this closure please contact South East Water 01634-276765 who will able to assist with scope of these works.

Dated: 15th January 2026 Matt Davey, Assistant Director of Highways, Transport and Planning West Sussex County Council

Report a problem with a road or pavement
Follow us at @WSHighways
Email: [email protected]
or raise a highways related enqu

West Sussex County Council will be carrying out local safety improvement works on Hanlye Lane from 26 January to 20 February 2026.

To ensure the works can be completed safely, a full road closure will be in place during this period. Access for residents within the closure area will be maintained at all times.

For further details and live updates, please visit: https://one.network

Thank you for your patience and understanding while these essential works are completed.

A bold new plan demonstrates how West Sussex County Council and partners are delivering on our priorities of keeping children and young people safe and helping them achieve their potential.

The new Children and Young People’s Plan for 2026 to 2029 outlines five key priorities designed to make West Sussex a place where children feel supported and able to thrive:

1. Keeping children and young people safe from harm Tackling exploitation, knife crime, and online dangers while creating safe spaces in communities.
2. Providing early support for families in need Expanding Family Hubs, parenting support, and holiday activities for low-income families.
3. Reducing inequalities Improving school readiness, supporting young carers and LGBT+ youth, and ensuring fair opportunities for all.
4. Improving mental health and wellbeing Faster access to mental health services and more support while waiting for treatment.
5. Supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Quicker assessments, more inclusive schools, and stronger family support.

The plan will continue to build on key successes achieved during the four-year period covered by the previous plan. These include:

• 10% reduction in the number of domestic abuse re-referrals made with children in the family over the past two years (Q1 2023/24 compared to Q4 2024/25)
• A 35% decrease in the number of children and young people involved in road traffic collisions
• Working with children and young people to create new online content to help young people to feel and stay safe
• Increased the percentage of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) issued within 20 weeks
• Improved online safety training and support to parents, including online and in-person events

Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “We are ambitious for all our children and young people. This plan is about working together to make sure every child feels valued, included, and supported.

“It will help map out how we can further enhance services and support available to children and young people across West Sussex for the next four years.

“I’m delighted with the progress that we have made and continue to make. This was reflected in the praise received from Ofsted inspectors who visited us in November and found we are getting better outcomes for children in need of help and protection.

“We will continue to work closely with groups of young people, parents and carers, school staff, health workers, charities and local organisations to keep children safe and give them the best start to life.”

READ: Ofsted inspectors praise county council’s children’s services following focussed visit

Every local authority is required to create and publish a Children and Young People’s Plan.

The new West Sussex Children and Young People’s Plan was shaped through extensive consultation, including feedback from more than 275 young people, parents, carers, and professionals.

It will be monitored and overseen by the Children First Board, a partnership of local government, health, education, police, and voluntary sector organisations, all committed to putting children first.

WATCH: Find out more about the West Sussex Children and Young People’s Plan

READ THE PLAN: West Sussex Children and Young People’s Plan 2026 to 2029

Residents are encouraged to share ideas, support local youth initiatives and help spread the word about services available to families. For more information email [email protected]

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For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected]. For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415.

All 36 of our libraries, and the eLibrary, will close to the public for three days on 19, 20 and 21 January 2026.

This is so staff can set up a new online management system which will allow our libraries to continue their excellent services for the thousands of residents who use them every day.

During the closures, data will be transferred to the new system and checks done to ensure everything is functioning correctly, before customers are welcomed back – online and in person - on Thursday 22 January.

Cllr Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “It’s essential we make these changes so our systems can continue to offer the many services that so many people rely on. Closing down for a few days will ensure the changeover is delivered efficiently and with minimal disruption so that staff can hit the ground running once we reopen.”

Customers are being advised that no reservations can be placed from Monday 12 January. In addition, the library app and website will be unavailable from the end of the day on Friday 16 January. The new app and website will launch with the system upgrade. 

Customers who have wish lists stored online of books they want to read will need to save them in advance of the closure, as the lists won’t transfer to the new system. Previously downloaded eLibrary content can be used during the closure, but new eLibrary loans will not be possible until services resume.  

There will be no items due for return during the week of the changeover and no overdue items fines added for this period. 

ENDS

For further information please contact the news desk on 0330 222 8090 or email [email protected]. For urgent out-of-hours enquiries please call 07767 098415.

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