Help shape the future of local government in Sussex

We're asking people for feedback on local government reorganisation following a government request for submissions on how local government should be organised in the future.

Government is abolishing 2-tier councils, such as our neighbouring authorities East Sussex County Council and Lewes District Council, in favour of unitary authorities which provide all local government services under one roof.

Every council in Sussex has been asked to put forward suggestions for how unitary authorities could replace the 2-tier system which currently exists in some areas.

We need to grow

Unlike other councils in Sussex, we’re already a unitary authority. However, as part of the government’s proposals, we will need to serve a larger population than we currently do.

As a result, we’re now exploring 4 proposals for adjusting our boundaries – each of which would take the population from around 280,000 to above 300,000. Now we’re keen to hear residents’ views on these.

Please have your say in our survey by Monday 25 August.

We have already carried out engagement with our local community, collecting initial feedback on how people felt about the idea of local government reorganisation and what concerns, if any, they may have had.

Positive about local government reorganisation

That feedback, which found people would feel positively about local government reorganisation if it led to improved services and financial savings, alongside research into data and evidence, has informed the 4 options we’re now sharing for further feedback.

We’ve designed each option to reflect how people already live, rather than forcing a change to local identity or community life.

We have also taken a host of other factors into account, including existing ties with neighbouring areas where many people already rely on Brighton & Hove for work, schools, healthcare and transport.

Our aim is to create a fairer, more balanced structure across Sussex, where each council has the population, resources and voice to deliver services effectively and best represent the communities that use them.

Strengthening and improving links

For example, our free swimming offer would be expanded to children and young people living nearby but in areas currently not able to take advantage of it. Our outstanding children’s services would be delivered across a wider area, while transport and economic links between the city and the areas suggested as joining out footprint could be strengthened and improved.

Staying as we are simply isn’t realistic. If we don’t act, decisions made elsewhere would reshape the region without us having a say.

But before we can submit our proposals, we need residents to have their say on what we are suggesting.

Share your thoughts

That is why we’ve launched a month-long public engagement exercise and are encouraging people to share their thoughts with us.

You can do this through an online survey before Monday 25 August.

We’ll also be holding a number of in-person events.

The first will take place at St Martin’s Church Hall, in Longridge Avenue, Saltdean from 6pm on Friday 1 August.

Help shape our final proposal

Your feedback will help shape the final proposal we put to government and help guarantee it will be a proposal which protects services, strengthens accountability and works for the long term.

More details of our proposals are available on our survey, but all options involve expanding our footprint east.

We decided not to explore westward expansion after listening to your feedback from the initial engagement back in April. In-depth analysis also found increasing our footprint to the west would not be financially viable. 

As a result, the 4 options we want your feedback on are:

•    Option A would see East Saltdean, Telscombe Cliffs and Peacehaven become part of Brighton & Hove City Council’s area. 

•    Option B adds Kingston and the small rural villages to the east of Brighton & Hove to the changes suggested in Option A.

•    Option C is for East Saltdean, Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven and Newhaven to join the Brighton & Hove City Council footprint.

•    Option D is for all of East Saltdean, Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven, Kingston to be included. 

Setting a positive vision

Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “We are setting out our positive vision for local government reorganisation in our area, by proposing options that would merge the city with wards to the east of our current boundary which we already have very close connections with.

“Since Brighton and Hove joined together 25 years ago we have achieved a huge amount, regenerating key aspects of the city while keeping council tax lower than neighbouring councils.

“We also know from our experience in Brighton that it is possible to do this while preserving and celebrating the unique identities of each our communities. 

“As a council we do this already; Rottingdean is very different to Moulsecoomb, Portslade to the North Laine.”

Bringing benefits to people across our area

Councillor Sankey added: “We believe our proposals will bring benefits to people across our area and now we want to hear from people on their thoughts and feedback.

“Our proposals represent opportunities for our regional economy, and services and infrastructure we already share but can improve, such as health services, leisure and transport links. The proposals would also create opportunities for our creative industries and the vital tourism sector which stretches along the coast.

“With mayoral elections coming next year and local government reorganisation moving along in tandem with that, it is vital we hear from residents about how they are feeling about these changes before we move to the next stage.”