Consultation informs next steps for Sussex devolution

The government is considering responses to a county-wide consultation about devolution in Sussex.

Residents, businesses and stakeholders in the city were invited to contribute their views, which will inform the government’s decision on whether to establish a new Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex and Brighton. The government is expected to report back in the next few weeks.

If the decision is taken to go ahead, Brighton & Hove and East and West Sussex councils will be asked for their consent before legislation is brought before Parliament.

Councillor John Hewitt, Cabinet adviser for Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation, said: “I would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and views. It is vitally important that your voices are heard and taken on board as the government considers the next stage.

“We also responded as a council and strongly agree that devolution would bring powers and funding down from Westminster for the benefit of all our local communities. It offers the chance to bring decision-making closer to local people and enable us to harness the full potential of the region, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for all.”

Brighton & Hove City Council's response

Brighton & Hove’s response agreed with the proposal to have a mayor directly elected by residents to be a regional leader. Elections for mayor would take place in May 2026.

A Mayoral Combined County Authority can work strategically on issues that affect people across the region the most, such as transport, economic growth, health and environment, as well as enable localised decision-making on tailored policies and initiatives that address specific regional needs.

Read Brighton & Hove’s response to the devolution consultation.

More information

Find out more about the consultation, which ended on 13 April, on the gov.uk website.

Brighton & Hove is part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).

Devolution involves transferring powers and funding from national to local government, ensuring decisions are made closer to the people, communities and businesses they affect.

A Mayoral Combined County Authority is made of a group of councils that come together over larger areas that people recognise and work in. In Sussex and Brighton, it would allow councils to work together in a structured way and take decisions over a wider footprint, with powers and responsibilities being held by the Mayoral Combined County Authority. It does not replace councils, but operates strategically across the whole region.

Find more information about Devolution in Sussex on our website.