Discussions on how residents of East Sussex could best be served by a new single tier of local government have been welcomed by the leader of East Sussex County Council.
Each of the six local councils in East Sussex will meet next week to consider an interim plan working towards proposals for a single unitary based on existing county boundaries as the joint response to the Government’s plan for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
East Sussex County Council and the five boroughs or districts of Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden will consider agreeing to a joint interim plan to send to government ahead of its 21 March deadline for initial ideas on reorganisation.
Ministers want to introduce unitary councils in areas like East Sussex, replacing the current two tiers and combining their services in one local authority.
Councillor Keith Glazier said: “We’ve had productive talks with all our partners, which is no surprise because we’ve long worked effectively together. All of us agree the priority is to find an arrangement which best serves our residents and preserves the strength and quality of all our services.
“I’m looking forward to the discussion with my colleagues at our cabinet and council on 20 March where we’ll consider the interim plan and our response to government on the best way forward.”
The government plans to reform local government with the aim of streamlining services and making them more efficient for residents.
It has suggested that new unitary councils should serve a population of at least 500,000. The interim plan for East Sussex, which has about 550,000 residents, therefore proposes a single unitary council for the area. However, it says that alternatives could be considered if the government changes its guidance.
The six authorities have made it clear in the interim plan that funding the reorganisation of local government will have to be from government as it cannot be met from existing councils’ budgets.
A consultation on the proposals as they develop will be held for all residents across East Sussex.
The government has given the six councils a deadline of September to submit final, much more detailed proposals.
If approved, a shadow new council would be elected in May 2027 and the date the new unitary council would formally take over – and East Sussex County, Eastbourne, Lewes, Hastings, Rother and Wealden councils would cease to exist – would be April 2028.
In a separate process, the government has agreed to include Sussex in its priority programme for devolution which will transfer some powers from Westminster to a mayoral combined county authority, made up of East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove and with an elected mayor. The combined authority would take on strategic powers for areas including transport, the economy, health, housing and public safety and would work with the new unitary authorities across the area.
A public consultation on the proposal for devolution in Sussex is open until April 13th:
Sussex and Brighton devolution consultation – GOV.UK
More information on Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution is in the Government’s White Paper:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth/english-devolution-white-paper
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