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Reject the 'core offer'

We the undersigned petition the council to reject the ‘core offer’ being considered and instead ask the council to send a clear message to the Government that it has provided insufficient funding to allow the Council to carry out its duties. If ESCC does not have enough money to fulfil its duties as a council and protect the vulnerable residents of East Sussex then it should file a Section 114 notice immediately to ensure a clear message to central Government. ESCC should not accept a level of funding from the government which is insufficient for the needs of the people it serves.

Many residents of East Sussex will be affected catastrophically by the core offer and the cuts will disproportionately affect the elderly, the vulnerable and those who are living in poverty. This should be unacceptable in a civil society.

Even if the core offer is put into effect there will still be a substantial budget shortfall. It would therefore be more transparent for the council to stop making cuts and file a Section 114 notice now, rather than make the cuts and be forced to file one later, a very real possibility.

It is particularly appalling that the council should consider seeking a change in the law so that it can remove free bus passes from the elderly and the disabled, charge membership for libraries, charge to enter household waste and recycling sites and charge for home to school transport for those who are entitled to it. These rights are enshrined in law for a reason.

The council’s consultation offers only two options to residents; severe cuts that may mean it is not providing the service to residents that it should, or a rise in council tax of 23% over the next three years. It does not give the third option, file a Section 114 notice and declare that the Government has not given ESCC enough funding to undertake its duties within the budget.

This ePetition ran from 20/11/2018 to 26/12/2019 and has now finished.

293 people signed this ePetition.