Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Leader of Lewes District Council, said: “I want to be clear about the considerable disappointment we feel regarding the eleventh-hour proposals put forward by Brighton and Hove City Council for local government reorganisation. As a result of their last-minute bid, these plans have been developed for communities they have failed to consult and, quite frankly, do not understand.

“Our Cabinet will meet on Wednesday, September 25, and we will be standing firm in supporting our residents. We will not support any proposal that seeks to dismantle our communities without proper engagement or understanding of their needs.

“The absence of consultation with residents or organisations outside Brighton is not only a breach of protocol, it also demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the people who would be directly affected by these changes. Our own consultation showed overwhelming rejection of the proposals – 89% of respondents, representing around 7,500 people objected – and nearly 6,500 people signed an online petition opposing the plans.

“We also have serious concerns about the effects this proposal would have on essential frontline services and B&HCC fully acknowledges that its model for local government reorganisation is the most expensive option, totalling up to £197 million. The disaggregation or separating out of areas such as adult social care, children’s services and education across different new authorities would come at a significant financial cost. B&HCC has provided no clear figures, but we know this would costs hundreds of thousands of pounds more. This is a cost that residents would ultimately pay and just as important is the human cost – these are major changes and there is a real risk that people who rely on this vital support could fall through the cracks.

“We are proud of the collaborative One East Sussex proposal, which we developed with our partners across the county. This is the right way forward for East Sussex and provides a sensible and sustainable solution for our region. We will continue to advocate for this collaborative approach that puts the interests of all East Sussex residents first.”

Councillor Keith Glazier, Leader of East Sussex County Council, said:

“Residents of East Sussex are the most important people to involve in conversation about the future of their local government. It’s bewildering that maps have been drawn up in secret for their communities with almost no discussion with them or with us.

“We will analyse this late proposal and any data or evidence it contains. But I am confident in the case we have made for One East Sussex which has been widely discussed with residents, is built on rigorous evidence and offers a clear proposal to provide the high-quality services people want. Our proposal stands on solid evidence and strong partnerships and would not involve huge extra complexity and cost.”