Councils using sustainable financial plans to combat financial pressures ahead of setting next year's budgets
Released: Monday, 02 December 2024
We've today published an update on our current budget position for 2025/26 that shows how we're working to combat the shortfalls and become more financially sustainable in the years ahead.
The report details that by being adaptive, participative and resilient we are managing national challenges that have moved from being unprecedented to being the norm. We are making big changes to how we work to tackle financial challenges, improve services for residents and create a more sustainable future. These changes aren't just about solving today's problems - they're about building a stronger foundation for the years ahead.
These changes are helping to reset the budgetary positions of both councils in the face of continuing cost pressures. Work is ongoing to resolve the current £754,000 shortfall in the Adur District Council budget for 2025/26 and the £2.982m shortfall in the Worthing Borough Council budget for that year. There is still time to address this before budget-setting early next year.
Recent announcements from the government have outlined a clear intention to address the structural issues with local government finance and has opened up a channel for discussion about exceptional support while this work is in progress.
Worthing Borough Council has therefore begun discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to request exceptional financial support while the change to the new way of delivering services for the community is completed.
We are being open and responsible about our situation and asking for help to support changes we are already making. This is part of our ongoing work to push for fair, long-term funding for local councils so we can keep providing the services the community needs while planning for the future. Increasing demand for services, rising costs, years of inadequate central government funding and the urgent need to take action to mitigate climate change means the way we worked in the past is now unaffordable and unsustainable.
Our proactive approach to meet these challenges involves working closely with the community and partners to reshape services to meet the needs of residents of both now and the years to come.
We are part way through a redesign of our services to make them better for the community as well as more cost-effective in the long term. This includes transforming the housing service, working with partners to help residents at risk of becoming homeless to stay in their properties or move to more affordable homes.
Rather than developing projects alone, we are working with partners and seeking outside investment to deliver new infrastructure to allow Adur and Worthing to thrive sustainably, such as the Worthing Heat Network and Sussex Bay initiatives.
Our officers are forging new, closer relationships with community groups and residents to improve neighbourhoods, by working together to identify the change that locals want to see and focusing resources to achieve it.
We are also rationalising our assets to ensure they are delivering the most value for money and maximising the benefit they bring to the community. This includes transferring sites to community groups to run and disposing of assets that are generating limited income - using the funds to invest in local projects that deliver long-term value to the community.
Contracts are being reviewed to ensure they are value for money, and fees and charges are being rebalanced so that non-essential services are sustainable by being fully funded by those who use them.
This isn't just about balancing budgets - it's about creating a new way of working that makes services better for residents, empowers staff, and ensures we can adapt to future challenges. By acting now, we are building a stronger, more sustainable future for everyone.
The report will be considered by our Joint Strategic Committee at its public meeting at the Gordon Room in Worthing Town Hall from 6:30pm on Tuesday 10th December 2024. Residents are encouraged to come along, ask questions and share their thoughts, see:
To read the full report, see:
(PR24-084)
Page last updated: 20 December 2024