Adur and Worthing Councils have submitted a response to the government’s consultation on devolution – plans for a  Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex. The response highlights the potential to unlock larger-scale investment, raise the national profile of Sussex, and to reset the relationship between local and central government.

The response said the potential for devolution was welcome but that the new authority must reflect local priorities and deliver real results for communities.

In December 2024, the government published the English Devolution White Paper. This sets out plans to move power out of Westminster and back to local communities. Sussex is set to elect a new mayor in May next year as part of the devolution priority programme.

A government consultation on the plans for the new authority was launched earlier this year. After seeking initial views of business and community leaders at a series of in-person events and listening to councillors and input from staff, Adur and Worthing councils published their response to the consultation.

The response noted support for countywide projects like Sussex Bay, which is led by Adur & Worthing councils, and emerging work on the Sussex Energy Plan – an ambitious plan to achieve net zero energy status in the Greater Brighton and wider Sussex area by 2040.

Jeremy Gardner, leader of Adur District Council said: “We have argued that all new bodies proposed through devolution and local government reorganisation must have local voices at their heart – our communities must be heard.”

The consultation response argued for:

• local voices and identity to be central, not sidelined
• neighbourhood-level participation and decision-making
• governance that is transparent, representative and rooted in place
• economic growth that strengthens communities, not just big business
• public services that feel human, joined-up and accessible
• climate action that supports local and community-led efforts
• proportional representation for the Mayoral election; to ensure governance is fair, open, and responsive to all communities across Sussex.