Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, convened a meeting between Leader of East Sussex County Council Cllr Keith Glazier and Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh MP to discuss challenges facing the County and future support for Sussex as Mayoral Combined Authority.
A wide range of issues affecting East Sussex were brought forward to the Minister, including funding for Sussex Weald healthcare and adult social care, improving local infrastructure, and funding for schools including special education needs provision.
As East Sussex is unique in having one of the highest number of residents aged 65+ in the country, discussions also focussed on budget challenges, the financial gap that the Council is facing as a result of the pressures on increasing adult social care costs.
The Government confirmed that the Sussex & Brighton Combined County Authority will be created as planned this May, and work to establish the new authority is already underway.
Nusrat Ghani said: “On behalf of East Sussex County Council, I was pleased to secure a meeting with the Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister to discuss the many financial challenges that the County is facing, especially adult social care and SEND schools. The issue of devolution was also raised, and I was keen to ensure that before any financial support for Sussex as a Mayoral Combined Authority is finalised, the Minister and Government are aware of the unique nature of our County and of the financial pressures it is under, and that these are not overlooked. We are a rural constituency with many elderly people with multiple needs and vulnerabilities, and I was previously pleased to have secured multiple meetings with Ministers and the Secretary of State at the Department for Transport to ensure that Sussex secures necessary support for its infrastructure, connectivity, step-free access, and more funding for improving our roads and fixing potholes.”
