17.1 The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive.
17.2 It was RESOLVED to:
1) note the evidence base on demographics (appendix 1) and the National and Local Policy outlook (appendix 2);
2) agree officers update the Medium Term Financial Plan as the basis for financial planning when more information is available, as set out in paragraph 4;
3) agree officers review the Capital Programme and Strategy (appendix 3), as set out in paragraph 5;
4) review the priority outcomes and delivery outcomes (appendix 4) which form the basis of the Council’s business and financial planning, as set out in paragraph 6;
5) agree to review and reset the East Sussex Core Offer (appendix 5) to take account of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, as set out in paragraph 7; and
6) agree to receive reports on more detailed plans for 2021/22 and beyond in the autumn when there is greater certainty about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on East Sussex and future resources.
Reason
17.3 The State of the County report is part of the Council’s Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) process, its integrated business and financial planning cycle. This report contains the normal elements included in the report, the demographic evidence base; the national and local policy context; an update on our medium term financial planning position and Capital Programme. However, the coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on our communities and services which we are not yet fully able to quantify and reflect in our future service offer and finances.
This report sets out the current position and evidence base and gives our current understanding of how we will need to reset our services to deal with the future, as we learn to live with the reality of a world with COVID-19 and the significant impact this has on people’s lives; manage the legacy impacts of the initial wave of infection; and respond to potential new waves of infection for the foreseeable future. The RPPR process, bringing together our policy, business and financial planning and risk management, provides the vehicle for the Council’s service and financial recovery and reset.