Future of local government in Sussex
Introduction
West Sussex County Council and our partners are at the forefront of plans for historic changes to local government across England.
The government has approved our joint bid together with East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council to create a Mayoral Combined Authority for Sussex and Brighton.
It will mean devolving powers, or in other words handing down responsibilities from Westminster to a mayor who is elected by people in Sussex.
Alongside the plans for devolution are separate but related plans for re-organising local authorities.
Here we look to summarise what these two processes mean for us here in Sussex.
Devolution
The government wants combined authorities to provide strategic leadership on issues including:
- housing
- highways and transport
- economic growth
- skills
- environment and climate change
- health
- public safety
This will be for areas of more than 1.5 million people, such as Sussex.
The cabinets of West Sussex County Council and neighbouring East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council agreed a joint bid to be part of the priority programme.
The bid was approved in February 2025, which will help unlock the benefits of devolution for Sussex sooner rather than later.
The government will run a consultation on the proposal, in which everyone will get the chance to have their say.
Have your say
Now is your chance to have a say on proposals for a Mayoral Combined Authority in Sussex and Brighton.
The government consultation opened on Monday 17 February and will close at the end of the day on Sunday 13 April.
It seeks views from everyone who lives and works in our county, and asks about:
- The proposed geography
- Governance arrangements
- Supporting the economy
- Improving social outcomes
- Local government services
- Improving the natural environment
- Supporting the needs of local communities and reflect local identity
Take part in the consultation on proposals for a Mayoral Combined Authority in Sussex and Brighton.
Reorganising local government
At the same time as devolving powers, the government is also looking to create unitary authorities in places where district, borough and county councils currently exist.
So while a combined mayoral authority would deliver on big, strategic issues, unitary authorities will continue to operate most day-to-day services currently delivered by the county and district and borough councils.
The government’s aim is for areas with a population of around 500,000 people are served by just one local council, hence the term ‘unitary authority.’
All partners across Sussex will be discussing how this might be arranged, with further details expected from government soon.
What happens next?
There are currently no changes to local government or the services we deliver.
The government agreed to postpone nine local elections due to be held in May 2025, including here in West Sussex. We asked for this as part of our bid because we do not believe we would have been able to meet the timetable required of us to deliver mayoral elections in 2026. In addition, the devolution consultation would have taken place in the run-up to the elections, and councils are not allowed to take part publicly in sensitive matters during the pre-election period. In outlining its rationale for the decision, the government says it set the bar ‘very high.’
Previous updates
11 March 2025: News release West Sussex County Council and partners preparing next steps in devolution and local government reorganisation
5 February 2025: News release Greater powers for Sussex come a step closer with government backing for devolution
16 January 2025: Message from West Sussex County Council Leader Cllr Paul Marshall An opportunity for West Sussex to flourish and prosper
9 January 2025: News release Sussex Councils agree to submit expression of interest on devolution
9 January 2025: Cabinet meeting on devolution Watch back and read the papers
3 January 2025: News release Sussex upper tier authorities to decide on submission on devolution
4 October 2024: News release West Sussex County Council submits expression of interest on devolution
Read more
Devolution and local elections explainer from Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Devolution and local government reorganisation from Local Government Association
Devolution in Sussex from East Sussex County Council
Devolution in Sussex from Brighton & Hove City Council
English Devolution White Paper from gov.uk