West Sussex County Council and its partners are preparing for Devolution and the upcoming local government reorganisation. Following publication of the Government’s White Paper on Devolution in December 2024, and approval in February of the bid from West Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council, and Brighton & Hove City Council to join the fast-track program
This is two separate processes:
- Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government, specifically strategic authorities led by a mayor. The plan is to have elections for the Mayor in May 2026.
- Local government reorganisation is the process of restructuring local authorities, specifically to move to a single level of government in areas of England where there are currently two (such as West Sussex).
Devolution next steps
- The Government consultation is open on proposal for strategic combined authority with an elected mayor for Sussex and Brighton. The consultation closed on 13th April 2025, please take this opportunity to have your say. Link to consultation
Local government reorganisation next steps
The Government has asked the councils in West Sussex to work collaboratively and come up with options on the future of single-tier local government in the county.
West Sussex County Council are discussing these options with our partners in the district and borough councils and will present these to government on Friday 21 March 2025. The options are not a decision but proposals the County Council are working towards an evidence-based decision for a final submission to the Government in September 2025.
The deadline of 21 March is the same day as the County Council Full Council meeting, which will include a discussion on the next steps for local government reorganisation. The meeting will be available to watch online on the day, and re-watch afterwards
The full business case will need to be submitted to the Government in September.
Chichester District Council
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Chichester District Council engagement survey is open until 11:59pm on Wednesday 13th August 2025 and is available at www.shapingwestsussex.org
- Local Government Prospectus Pack which gives you more information on the options available.
Chichester District Council Newsletters
GOV. UK
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: