Devolution – devolving powers from Westminster and Whitehall to Sussex:

A  government-led consultation is underway on a Mayoral County Combined Authority for Sussex, with the election of a mayor on 7 May next year. The consultation concludes on 13 April. Consultation details are here.

Local government reorganisation

Jeremy Gardner, leader of Adur District Council met with leaders of all district and borough councils and the county council in West Sussex this week to agree a submission to go to the government on progress towards local government reorganisation.

This is the plan, outlined in a government white paper in December, that will see district councils such as Adur and county councils abolished. They will be replaced by new unitary councils bringing together in one place the services currently provided by the two tiers, district and county, of local government. No decisions on the boundaries or exact size of unitaries have been made.

The government asked for an update by 21 March on progress being made in developing proposals rather than proposals themselves.

So, the submission lists a number of issues under discussion and that options to be considered are:

•     A large single unitary either based upon the existing county or
•     Two smaller unitaries, the footprint of which are still being discussed

It was also agreed the number of unitaries being proposed could vary depending on emerging guidance.

The West Sussex submission is here.

More detailed proposals must be submitted to the Government in September.

Jeremy said: “I believe that a new unitary authority must bring benefits to our communities and that the voice of local people and members must  be heard in its development and in its practice.”

Adur council will be developing an ambitious programme of engagement with residents, business, and community organisations to discuss what a new unitary should look like, how it could do better than current arrangements.