Reaction to West Sussex delay in local government reorganisation

The delay in deciding how West Sussex will look under local government reorganisation has been described as ‘simply not good enough’ by the leader of the county council.

Paul Marshall spoke after Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, announced that he was unable to make a decision and that a second ‘short, technical’ consultation would be held to help him modify what had been proposed.

The county council proposed one unitary council to cover the whole of the west, while the seven district and borough councils proposed two – with Adur, Arun, Chichester and Worthing in one, and Crawley, Horsham, and Mid Sussex in the other.

Mr Reed’s modifications could see Chichester, Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex in one authority and Arun, Adur and Worthing in another.

Describing the modified proposals as ‘vague and unresolved’, Mr Marshall added: “This is not strategic leadership. It is policy drift. What makes the situation even more troubling is the timing.

“To signal such significant potential changes just days before the formal pre-election period takes effect – when meaningful political debate is inevitably constrained – risks being seen as a calculated attempt to shut down scrutiny.

“Residents are effectively being told that the future of their local services will be decided later, while open public discussion is paused. That is not transparency. It is not accountability. And it is certainly not how decisions affecting hundreds of thousands of residents should be made.”

The second consultation will be held after May’s local elections, with a decision now expected in the summer.

Once that decision is made, elections for the new unitary authorities will be held in May, 2027, though the authorities themselves will not ‘go live’ until April, 2028. Until then they will operate as ‘shadow’ councils.

What the district and borough leaders said.

Robert Eggleston, leader of Mid Sussex District Council: “This further delay from government is disappointing and creates unnecessary uncertainty for our communities. Councils across West Sussex have been preparing in good faith for a clear decision by the end of March, and this late shift to an additional consultation compresses the time-scales we need to plan properly for any reorganisation.

“The government has not come forward with any evidence base to justify its proposals which makes their announcement very surprising. A smooth transition depends on clarity, stability, and sufficient time to prepare new structures that protect services and ensure residents are properly supported. The continued uncertainty makes that more challenging.

“Despite this, we remain fully committed to working closely with our partners across West Sussex. Our priority is, and always will be, delivering the best outcomes for the people we serve, and we will, of course, respond to the consultation in an objective and evidenced based way. I hope that the government will assess it in the same way.”

 Martin Boffey, leader of Horsham District Council: “This is certainly not the outcome we were hoping for today as we were expecting, after such a protracted length of time and concerted efforts from all local councils, to finally receive a clear decision from the government on our local government reorganisation and have a measure of certainty about the future.

“Disappointing though this delay is, our focus now must be to keep working constructively and responsibly to champion the interests of Horsham district’s residents, businesses and communities through our response to this consultation, and ensure those interests are fully protected as the process continues forward.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with government and neighbouring authorities to make this reorganisation a success, ensuring the eventual smooth transition that our residents deserve and safeguarding the high-quality services they rely on.”

Jeremy Gardner, leader of Adur District Council: “A new unitary council bringing decisions on roads, potholes, social care and education closer to our communities can bring improvements to local services. The secretary of state has said today he wants more information before making a decision on the shape of unitary authorities in Sussex, but suggests a coastal council for West Sussex as a possibility.

“Local people and businesses in Adur have said that they would prefer a coastal council over other possible options. A new council on the West Sussex coast with the right leadership and properly financed could focus on the needs of our coastal communities and businesses to improve our economy, bring more investment and jobs and of course protect our environment.

“I agree with the secretary of state that we must be sure that new councils will be financially viable. As a council leader I will be looking to ensure any change benefits our communities and that any new council listens to our communities. I look forward to hearing more on the government’s proposals.”

Sophie Cox, leader of Worthing Borough Council, said: “We recognise today’s announcement from the government regarding a potential new unitary authority for Adur, Worthing and Arun will generate strong interest across our communities in Worthing.

“Many of our residents and businesses have previously expressed support for a West Sussex coastal authority – one that is closer to local communities and better able to respond to the distinct challenges and opportunities of our coastal areas.

“Detailed financial work undertaken last year with all other West Sussex authorities indicated that a smaller coastal unitary could struggle to be financially sustainable, but we are now keen to learn more about the government’s up-to-date financial assessment, following the Fair Funding Review.

“We remain committed to working collaboratively with our neighbouring councils and the government to ensure the best possible outcome for our residents and businesses – one that delivers well-designed, sustainable and innovative local services.

“We also welcome the government’s plan to consult with residents and stakeholders on this new proposal, and encourage people to take part in that process starting after the May elections.”

Adrian Moss, leader of Chichester District Council: “The delay is very disappointing, as the ongoing uncertainty reduces the time available for planning and preparation on the final decision and heightens the risks to delivering a smooth transition for our residents.

“All councils in West Sussex remain committed to working together in the best interests of our communities, and we will continue to collaborate closely as we await further clarity from Government. The consultation information and further details will be shared by the councils as they become available.

“We will continue to keep our communities well informed throughout this important process and will provide regular updates.”

Martin Lury, leader of Arun District Council: “I have to admit to being frustrated at a clearly avoidable delay in decision making by this government, and remain puzzled as to the need for further modifications to proposals.

“The two proposals submitted by West Sussex councils were both fully costed, were in accordance with government criteria and our two unitary proposal had universal leader support and favourable public comments.

“It does seem somewhat perverse that modifications not proposed by West Sussex leaders are now to be consulted on.”

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