WSCC Adult Services Overspend Falls But Remains Above £13 Million

West Sussex County Council overspent its adult services budget by £13.634 million during the 2025/26 financial year, according to figures presented to the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee. The overspend was recorded against a budget of £311 million and was £6.1 million lower than the previous year’s figure.

Richard Bates, the council’s cabinet member for adult services, said the reduction represented progress but acknowledged further work was needed to achieve long-term financial sustainability. He said the council would continue focusing on prevention, early intervention, supporting independence and service transformation while meeting its statutory responsibilities.

Council officers told the committee that rising complexity of need, increasing numbers of older people requiring support, and growing demand from people with mental, physical and learning disabilities were major cost pressures. Additional financial challenges included the cost of young people transitioning from children’s services into adult care and a reduction in income from service-user contributions.

Following discussion at the meeting, Mr Bates agreed to write to the Government requesting that a review of social care funding be brought forward.