Despite facing the East Sussex County Council budget axe, the Hookstead Day Care Centre in Crowborough will not now close – but its hours and service will be cut.
ESCC’s Cabinet agreed the u-turn this morning after officers decided that revised proposals for various social care service cuts, could achieve the same savings instead.
It will mean relief for campaigners who have been fighting the closure of Hookstead. They were furious it had been earmarked for closure as part of East Sussex County Council’s £13.5million budget savings. But while it’s 11th hour reprieve may feel like a victory, there is likely to be on-going concern about the revised proposals for a 25 per cent cut in capacity and opening hours.
The report to members this morning said: “Whilst there has been no significant change in the financial position of the council, the consultation process has led to alternative proposals being made in some instances…. The financial appraisal shows that the revised proposals would deliver the same savings in total.”
The report recognises that the revised proposals will continue to have an impact on residents but says they “have the advantage of mitigating some of the impact on the adults, carers, families and staff affected whilst still delivering the required level of savings”.
Full details of the revised proposals can be found at Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 25th February, 2025, 10.00 am | East Sussex County Council.