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Devolution in Sussex

East Sussex County Council has agreed to submit a joint proposal with Brighton & Hove and West Sussex for devolution of powers across Sussex.

The Government’s White Paper on Devolution published in December 2024 asked local authorities to say how they would respond to the Government’s intention to devolve some powers to local areas with the formation of combined mayoral authorities. The government wants combined authorities to provide strategic leadership on issues including housing, growth and transport for areas of more than 1.5 million people.

Proposal for a combined authority and an elected mayor

The cabinets of East Sussex County Council and neighbouring West Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council decided on 9 January to proceed with a proposal for devolution with a combined authority for Sussex, including an elected mayor. 

The ambition is to give people in all parts of Sussex a stronger voice in how national decisions affect them and greater power to shape investment and major projects across the area.

The Government’s plans are for a mayor and combined authority to lead on strategic issues including transport, skills, housing, economic growth, environment and climate change, health and public safety.

Reorganisation of local government

A combined mayoral authority would work with local councils in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, which would continue to operate most day-to-day services.

The Government’s aim is for people to be served by just one local council (known as ‘unitary government’). In East Sussex, this could mean moving away from the two-tier model of county council and borough or district council.

All partners in East Sussex are discussing how this might be arranged.

What happens next?

If the Government accepts the initial proposal for devolution in Sussex it will consult residents on their views before the end of March. We expect to know the Government’s decision before the end of January.

One possible outcome of the application is that the Government opts to postpone the currently planned 2025 county council elections with a view to electing the mayor for a strategic authority in 2026 and then developing local government reorganisation.

There are no changes to local government or its services at this time.

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