Massive cuts will be made to charities and voluntary groups across East Sussex - despite an 11th hour £5.4 million boost from the government.

The 49 county councillors met today to vote on the budget for the coming year.

Only 24 hours earlier central government said it would offer an extra £5.4 million over the next two years.

There was also an unexpected £800k boost in revenue from extra council tax and business rates collected.

Despite this, the Tories - who are the largest group but have no overall control - managed to get their budget approved.

This means cuts to voluntary groups will now go ahead.

These include: 

  • £1,234 million on sheltered housing projects
  • £717k to adoption and fostering services
  • £80k to REFUGE
  • £20k to Autism Sussex
  • £67k to Action for the Blind
  • £30k to Age Concern Eastbourne

Tory deputy leader David Elkin said the extra money from central government will go into reserves for future difficult years.

"Sustainability is still the key and there are still difficult decisions ahead," he said.

"These curs are our share of austerity and there is never a good time to take tough decisions.

"Our task is amazingly tough but shelving difficult decisions is the least ethical course of action."

The Lib Dems agreed the extra money should be saved for future years but put forward 31 alternative ideas to save money.

These included reducing the size of the communications team and cuts to trading standards.

Labour group leader Trevor Webb called for the cuts to voluntary groups not to go ahead and said the extra money should be spent now because people need help immediately.

He said: "There has been enormous criticism of these Tory proposals. Our ideas are a good reflection of what people want us to do."

Ukip leader Phil Howson said cuts were inevitable but said the saving at Refuge was "heartless and disgraceful."

He added: "The rainy year has arrived and the storm clouds have formed. The vulnerable must be our top people."

The Stroke Association was given a reprieve and will now not lose its £80k grant.

This means the council tax rise for the county council portion will be 3.99 percent.