How East Sussex County Council works

East Sussex County Council is a no overall control council, with a Conservative minority administration.

The residents of East Sussex elect 50 councillors (also known as members). The people who stand for election as councillors may belong to:

  • one of the national political parties
  • a local political party
  • be completely independent of a political party

The last full County Council elections took place on 6 May 2021. There were two by-elections held on the 27 July, and 3 August 2023. The current political make-up of East Sussex County Council is:

  • 25 Conservative
  • 12 Liberal Democrats
  • 5 Labour
  • 5 Green
  • 2 Independent Democrats
  • 1 Independent