Social Value Ideas for Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils

Assurance recovery roadmap

Grant Thornton and officers set out a multi-year roadmap to regain audit assurance after repeated disclaimer opinions. The plan anticipates further disclaimer opinions in 2025-26 and 2026-27, with the…

“The strategy sets out steps required to restore audit assurance and how we are going to work towards a fully modified opinion. This strategy has been …”

Persistent disclaimer opinion

The auditors said the 2025-26 accounts will again be disclaimed because prior-year assurance gaps remain, particularly over opening balances. The committee explored whether and when an unqualified opi…

“So because last year was the first year where we performed detailed audit procedures, and as it was highlighted in prior auditor's findings report as …”

Government Funding Settlement Shortfall

Local government financial settlement 2025-26 presents disappointing outcome with single-year settlement limiting strategic planning. Government provided £69bn funding nationally (6% cash increase, 3.…

“This year's budget has also been set within the context of a disappointing outcome of this year's local government financial settlement... In 2025 -26…”

Treasury position improved

Quarter 1 treasury management showed lower borrowing than budgeted and reduced capital financing requirements, mainly because of capital receipts, debt rescheduling and reduced borrowing need. The cou…

“The forecast general fund external debt has reduced from budgeted $160 million to $94 million. That actually brings the total general fund debt below …”

Balanced year-end budget and reserves

The council reported a balanced General Fund outturn and a favourable housing revenue account position, with capital expenditure broadly in line with budget. Members were told that reserve drawdown wa…

“The overall message is that the Council has ended the year in a balanced General Fund position. This has been achieved through active budget managemen…”

General Fund Revenue Budget 2026-27 Balanced Budget Delivery

Cabinet approved balanced general fund revenue budget for 2026-27 and medium-term financial projections through 2029-30. Budget built on service budget rebasing, adjustments from fair funding review 2…

“Tonight, I am presenting a balanced budget for 2026 to 2027 and balanced projections through to 2029 and 2030. That reflects difficult decisions, firm…”

External audit fee increase

Grant Thornton’s proposed fee for the 2025-26 external audit is £226,417, about £6,000 higher than the prior year. The committee received the audit plan, which sets the scope and timetable for the sta…

“The report in front of you is the external audit plan produced by Grand Taunton, and this is going to be for the 25 -26 audit. Again, in terms of the …”

Approve with added condition wording

The committee agreed to approve the application, with the officer confirming that condition 10.23 would be expanded into a water infrastructure assessment covering water provision and foul drainage, p…

“So if members are happy for that to be concluded by, we will include that in the recommendation. Right. And sorry, there was also some additional tran…”

Turnpike Farm refused

Members eventually refused the Turnpike Farm housing application, and officers were delegated to draft the wording of the landscape and highway safety reasons before referral under the ministerial dir…

“I think the proposal is accepted... So those are the two planning material reasons to go to a for a proposal. Is that absolutely clear? Great. Does it…”

Secretary of State referral for major housing

A new ministerial direction applies to schemes of 150 dwellings or more. Officers explained that if members resolved to refuse the Turnpike Farm scheme, the decision would be referred to the Secretary…

“Item 8, application number LW250391. The location is land north of Turnpike Farm, the broil. The proposal is outline planning application with all mat…”

Housing need vs capacity gap

The Local Plan identifies a substantial gap between the standard methodology housing need of around 11,700 homes and the borough’s assessed capacity of just under 4,500 homes. This creates strong pres…

“The standard methodology sets us a housing requirement for approximately 11 ,700 homes over this planned period. That is what we have to use and demon…”

Local Plan goes to Regulation 19

Cabinet agreed to recommend the Eastbourne Local Plan for full council approval and Regulation 19 public consultation. The plan covers 2025-2042 and sets the strategic policy framework for homes, jobs…

“Today we are asking cabinet to recommend for Council Council approves the local plan as well as the policies map and the supporting evidence documents…”

Eastbourne Local Plan submission

Cabinet is being asked to recommend a Regulation 19 Local Plan for public consultation, covering 2025 to 2042. The plan has major procurement implications because it sets the framework for future infr…

“So, chair, members of the cabinet, the report in front of you is seeking cabinet's recommendation to full council to approve the local plan alongside …”