Closed: Consultation on Eastbourne Borough Council savings proposals

This consultation has now closed. The consultation report is available to download below.

Download the consultation report (PDF, 788 KB)

These financial challenges are due to the high costs of homelessness and temporary accommodation. These have been compounded by high interest rates, reduction in business rates income and inflationary pressures. 

Despite including over £3m of savings in the 2024/2025 budget, additional savings of over £2.7m are needed in the current financial year and a further £3m of savings for the following financial year.

The council is not alone in dealing with this emergency, with many authorities in recent weeks and months announcing that they are having to make severe cuts to services. 

When considering the savings required, the following guidelines are being considered, where possible:  

• Prioritising services that we have a statutory duty to deliver 
• Prioritising services that provide directly for those most in need  
• Seeking opportunities to make temporary reductions where possible 

Savings proposals for non-statutory services 

Through the consultation we sought the views of residents, visitors, business, partner organisations and other stakeholders on proposals for further changes to non-statutory council services.

At September 2024 Cabinet, a number of savings were agreed. It was also agreed that a consultation would be carried out over proposals to reach the remaining savings needed this financial year.

We conducted the public consultation to find out how the proposals might impact people. We also invited ideas and suggestions for different ways to achieve savings within these service areas.

All of the proposals considered have previously been adopted by other authorities across the country to reduce the expenditure of the council and increase financial resilience. 

The proposals being considered  

• Public toilets: moving to a community toilet scheme. 
• Street cleansing: focussing activity on areas with higher footfall. 
• Grounds maintenance: focussing on core activities and seeking community support in other areas. 
• Customer services: slightly reducing our face-to-face and telephone operating hours. 
• Car parks: reviewing charges and hours of operation. 
• Sovereign Centre: considering reducing the number of pools available whilst protecting swimming lessons, school swimming and structured sessions such as lane swimming. We are also looking at different uses for the spaces such as soft play, a climbing wall or greater gym capacity. 
• Community grants: reducing our budget for grants to our voluntary sector partners (including Rent Support Grants) after April 2025. 
• Eastbourne Town Hall: explore ways to reduce the costs and consider alternative uses for the building. 
• The Splash Pad at Princes Park: identify options for future sponsorship for it to remain open. 

More details on the proposals are available at: Financial challenges at Eastbourne Borough Council and consultation - FAQs

Drop-in event on Thursday 10 October

We held a consultation drop-in event at Eastbourne Town Hall on Thursday 10 October 2024 from 12 noon to 7pm.

This provided local people with a chance to speak to council staff and councillors about the proposals and ask any questions.

Our thanks to everyone who took the time to attend the event.

Alternative formats and ways to respond

To request the information in a different language or format, please email bpp@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

Paper copies of the consultation information were available from Eastbourne Town Hall or could be posted on request.

Background information

More details on the proposals are available at: Financial challenges at Eastbourne Borough Council and consultation - FAQs

For more information on savings agreed at September 2024 Cabinet, please see: Council cuts: leader appeals to government for uplift in housing benefit subsidy