COMMUNITY groups have slammed proposed £90 million cutbacks as ‘unprecedented’ and will hit the most vulnerable.

In a response to the huge cuts being planned at East Sussex County Council a damming letter has been joint written by leaders of organisations who help people across the county,

Adam Chugg, chief executive of 3VA, Martin Fisher, chief executive of Rother Voluntary Action, and Steve Manwaring, chief executive of Hastings Voluntary Action, also state the consultation is "not fit for purpose".

The statement from the three chief executives states: "The scale of the planned service reductions are unprecedented and will impact severely on the lives of the most vulnerable service users across the county.

"We are extremely concerned that the current consultation information has provided so little clear and consistent information about the specific impact of the cuts and who they will affect.

"This makes it very difficult for individuals and organisations to submit to the consultation from an informed perspective as the information provided is both incomplete and superficial.

"For these reasons we have determined that the information provided as part of the Adult Social Care consultation process is not fit for purpose."

The county council claims it must save up to £90 million over the next three years, of which £40 million must come from the adult social care department.

A number of groups have already come forward to say they will be affected, including disability organisations, Age Concern, and a homeless project in Eastbourne – The Foyer – which may have to close.

The trio also have major concerns about how little collaboration there has been between adult social care and the three groups to discuss the nature of the service reductions.

They say the coming weeks and months are ‘ likely to be extremely difficult and uncertain’ and are looking to draw up an action plan so the entire voluntary sector in East Sussex can be represented.

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: “Reductions in Government funding mean the council has to find savings of up to £90million over the next three years. As part of this our adult social care department is being asked to identify savings of £40 million to be made by the end of March 2019.

“The consultation is an opportunity for people to give their views on proposals for how some of the savings can be achieved, with every response being taken into account when councillors make their decision next year.

“We would urge people to take part in the consultation online at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/ascbudget”