Beating the downturn – what we are doing
As the county council for East Sussex, our responsibilities reach far and wide. They include support for the disabled and elderly, children and families, business, education and libraries, roads and transport, the environment – to name a few.
Discussions and reports
For full details of our latest plans, and a summary of the impact on the county, see the recent Cabinet meeting papers below. Each document includes sections of facts and figures as appendices:
Consultations and surveys
A quick summary of some of the things we're doing
Making savings by working with others
We've joined with seven of the leading councils in the South East to look at the potential for savings and improvements to services. These councils cover over 5 million people and are responsible for net budgets worth £3.4 billion, and recently signed a formal ‘Memorandum of Understanding'.
Setting up a £1 million fighting fund to help the county through the recession
The cash will be spent on a wide range of initiatives and partnerships aimed at helping firms, families and individuals to fight the credit crunch.
Grants to local Credit Unions
These community-based savings and loans organisations can make it easier for people to access loans and protect residents from the loan sharks. We're promoting ethical saving with the unions.
Helping people to claim benefits
Together with East Sussex Age Concern, we run a benefit take-up scheme for older people. We're now working on increasing benefit take-up for other groups.
Help for families
Childcare, school uniforms and school meals can be expensive so there's a range of government and Council help including Children's Centres, nursery education support and, for families on low incomes, help with school meals and transport.
Help for local businesses
So far this year we're making it easier to get a loan, and helping to link buyers with contractors in major construction projects. In 2009 we worked on speeding up the payment of invoices, buying locally where we can, and making it easier to find the information you need.
