Devolution

You may have seen in the media that the government has outlined plans for both devolution and the reorganisation of local government.

Devolution and the reorganisation of local government are two different things.

What is Devolution?

Devolution involves introducing strategic authorities with an elected mayor across England, so that government can hand more powers down from Whitehall. Elected mayors will oversee areas representing two or more current county council geographical areas and will be handed more power over things such as strategic housing and planning; transport; environment; support, business and research; and public safety. A strategic authority would represent a population size of at least 1.5 million residents.

In December, the government invited upper tier (county and unitary) authorities to submit bids for devolution by 10 January for a place on their fast-track scheme. In our area, West Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove Council requested to create a strategic authority based on their combined footprint, which covers around 1.7 million residents.

The government approved this proposal for the fast track scheme and they are now consulting with residents and businesses on this until 13 April here: Sussex and Brighton devolution - GOV.UK, with the aim of agreeing the new strategic authority by September. If approved, this will be created in March 2026 and mayoral elections will be held in May 2026.

What is Local Government Reorganisation?

Local government reorganisation is separate to devolution, but links with the government's overall aims. The government wants all areas to have unitary councils across the country, with each serving a minimum of 500,000 residents.  For the Sussex area, this is likely to mean the creation of three new unitary councils. This would mean all of the existing councils merging into the new unitary councils. Each area has until the Autumn to submit detailed proposals.

Sussex has been accepted onto the fast-track devolution route and so the proposed timeline is for the unitary authorities to be ready in shadow form in 2027.

What happens next?

We want to assure you that regardless of what happens, our services will still be provided to you, and we will make the transition as smooth as we possibly can. We will also keep you closely informed as we receive more information. We realise you will have lots of questions and so we have pulled together a list of FAQs that we have answered - and these will continue to be updated and added to. Please be aware that the situation is changing rapidly and so these answers are based on what we know at the current time and are subject to change.

Frequently Asked Questions

The media has said that the council is due to be abolished, is this true?

The government's proposals are about merging councils together into a new authority - this is why it is referred to as a reorganisation. The government wants to replace two-tier (county, district/borough) council areas with larger unitary authorities. This would involve merging a number of councils (county, district and borough) to create a larger unitary council. All of our council services would continue - they would just be moved into a larger authority.

What is a Unitary Authority?

Unitary authorities are a single tier of local government responsible for all local services in an area. They may cover a whole county, part of a county or a large town or city. For example, Brighton and Hove; Portsmouth; and Southampton are all unitary councils. Large urban areas may have a unique form of unitary authorities called metropolitan councils, such as Oldham or Doncaster. London boroughs are also unitary authorities. 

What is the timeline for Local Government Reorganisation?

The government has indicated that they intend to deliver new unitary authorities included in the Devolution Priority Programme by April 2027 and remaining unitary authorities by April 2028. 

Why does the government want to make these changes?

There are two separate things that the government wants - devolution and the reorganisation of local government. These are both separate pieces of work, but link with the government's overall aims.

In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. In order to achieve this, the government wants to introduce strategic authorities with an elected mayor. Elected mayors would then oversee areas representing two or more current county council geographic areas and would be handed more power over areas such as strategic housing and planning; transport; environment; support, business and research; and public safety. 

Local Government Reorganisation is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. The government has set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils. The government has indicated that for most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution. This will be decided on a case-by-case basis. 

Under the government's proposals each Mayoral Strategic Authority would oversee at least two unitary authorities.

What is proposed for our area?

West Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council, and Brighton and Hove Council have requested to create a strategic authority based on their combined footprint, which covers around 1.7 million residents. The Government has now accepted them onto the fast-track programme, which is known as the Devolution Priority Programme. This means that the West Sussex County Council elections will be postponed for one year, while the details of the proposals are developed.

Will I get a say on the proposals for our area?

Yes. The Government is currently consulting on a new Strategic Authority for the wider region of West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton. The consultation is open until 11.59pm on 13 April. You can have your say by visiting: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sussex-and-brighton-devolution

If this is approved when would the new Strategic Authority be created?

If approved, the new strategic authority would be created in March 2026 and mayoral elections would be held in May 2026. The leaders from the upper tier authorities (currently the existing county councils and unitary - and in future the new unitary councils) would sit on the strategic authority.

What is the difference between a Strategic Authority and a Unitary Authority?

A strategic authority allows a group of two or more unitary councils to collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries. This would be led by a Mayor who would sit alongside the leaders of the three upper-tier authorities (existing county councils and unitary).

A unitary council is a single tier of local government responsible for all local services in an area. Under the government's proposals all unitary councils must serve a minimum of 500,00 residents. For the Sussex area, we are likely to see the creation of three new unitary councils. Each area has until the Autumn to submit detailed proposals.

Which councils would Chichester District Council merge with?

We don't yet know - these are all things that have yet to be considered. Outline proposals will need to be submitted by March and detailed proposals will need to be submitted by May or the Autumn (this has yet to be determined).

When would the new authorities come into effect?

Now that Sussex and Brighton have been accepted on the fast-track devolution programme, the proposed timeline for the creation of the strategic combined authority and elected mayor is for 2026 and for the unitary authorities to be ready in shadow form in 2027.

If the local government reorganisation goes ahead, what will happen?

All current authorities in Sussex will cease to exist on the transfer date and all staff will move across to the authority.

All services provided by county, unitary, district and borough councils will continue. There may also be some services that are currently delivered by county, unitary, district and borough councils that may transfer to the new strategic authority.

Will the South Downs National Park be affected by the devolution process and would the Mayor have any strategic control over the park?

The National Parks are not included within the local government reorganisation and it is unclear at this stage whether the Mayor would have any control over their work.

Why is there a possibility of local elections scheduled for May 2025 being postponed in some areas?

The government has acknowledged that for some areas, the timing of elections affects their planning for local government reorganisation. To help manage these demands, the government will consider requests to postpone local elections, as submitted on Friday 10 January. 

The government will work with local areas, including agreeing where local elections may be delayed. Requests from councils to postpone local elections will only be considered where postponement will help an area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe. Where local elections are postponed, government will work with areas to move to elections to new 'shadow' unitary councils as soon as possible as is the usual arrangement in the process of local government.

In our area, West Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove Council have requested to create a strategic authority based on their combined footprint, which covers around 1.7 million residents. The Government has accepted their request and agreed to put them on the Devolution Priority Programme. Due to this, the West Sussex County Council elections will be postponed for one year.

Will the proposed changes prevent the council from making decisions?

No. As far as we are concerned, it is business as usual, and we will continue to support our communities to the high standards that they expect. We will just need to carefully consider any long-term decisions that may impact on any future reorganisation.

How will councillors be affected?

If local government reorganisation takes place, then Chichester District Council will no longer be an entity once the new unitary is established. However, councillors will be able to put themselves forward as candidates for the new authority.

What is Devolution?

In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government, so that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect. 

What is Local Government Reorganisation?

Local Government Reorganisation is the process in which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. In the context of the English Devolution White Paper, the government has set out plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils. The government has indicated that for most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis. 

What is the difference between Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation?

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. Local Government Reorganisation is about how the powers and funding that sit with local government are organised between councils. 

What is the Devolution Priority Programme?

The Devolution Priority Programme is the government's fast track programme to set up strategic authorities with an elected Mayor. In this area, a proposal has been submitted to government to form a strategic authority covering West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton, and the proposal has now been accepted by the Government and placed on the Devolution Priority Programme.

What is a Strategic Authority?

A strategic authority will be a legal body set up using national legislation that enables a group of two or more councils to collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries. We expect further detail to be set out as part of the English Devolution Bill. Depending on the form of devolution in an area, there are three levels of strategic authority available: 

• Foundation Strategic Authority: Available to those areas without an elected mayor. It will have limited devolution. For example, the current Lancashire devolution deal will establish a Foundation Strategic Authority. 
• Mayoral Strategic Authority:  For those with an elected mayor, a range of powers will be devolved. For example, the West of England is a Mayoral Strategic Authority.  
• Established Mayoral Strategic Authority: For those mayoral strategic authorities, that are able to satisfy a number of additional governance requirements. They will have access to the most devolution. Greater Manchester and the West Midlands are already at this stage.  

In this area, a proposal has been submitted to government to form a strategic authority covering West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton. If given the go ahead there will be an elected Mayor and the leaders from the upper tier councils will also sit on this. When the new unitary councils are created, the leaders from these councils will sit on the strategic authority. Until they are in place, the current leaders from West Sussex County Council; East Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove Council would take these roles.

What is a Mayor?

A Mayor is the directly elected leader of a geographical region. Many areas of England already have Mayors, including London, Greater Manchester, and West Yorkshire. There are also directly elected mayors covering single unitary councils.  

What is the role of Mayors compared to council leaders?

The government believes that within the context of Strategic Authorities, Mayors should have a unique role which allows them to focus fully on devolved responsibilities. Council leaders are expected to continue to focus on leading their place and delivering vital services. 

What is a shadow year?

Elections for the new authorities would be held and those who have been elected will sit on the newly formed council. During this year, they will only be given the powers to prepare for the new council coming into effect. This will involve creating a corporate plan, setting a budget for the following year, and producing a constitution. They will also appoint a Chief Executive, Statutory Officers and other senior officers to prepare for the transition. They will not run any services within the shadow year.

During this year, the government will also issue a Structural Order to all existing councils, including ours, to advise on what we can and can't do during that year. Day to day decisions will continue, but financial decisions relating to new activities will be restricted.