West Sussex County Council has criticised the government’s U-turn over the postponement of May’s local elections.
A statement released on Tuesday (February 17) said the government’s ‘indecision’ had created ‘significant uncertainty’ when it came to devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR).
The intention to postpone elections for councils involved in LGR was announced in January – the worry being that they would not have the money or resources to do both.
That decision faced a legal challenge from Reform UK which had been due to be heard in the High Court. But on Monday (February 16), Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, wrote to council leaders to confirm the postponement plans were being withdrawn.
Reacting to the news, a council spokesman said: “We submitted our preferred option for LGR in September and clearly explained to the government the impact that continuing with local elections in 2026 would have on the ability to deliver the government’s policy objectives of devolution and LGR on their requested timetable.
“Based on our submission, minsters decided the threshold for deferring local elections had been met. They have since changed their position.
“This indecision has heightened the level of difficulty, creating significant uncertainty.”
West Sussex County Council, along with East Sussex and Brighton, are working to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority, with the first mayor of Sussex & Brighton due to be elected in 2028.
The council spokesman added: “The risk we face is not whether we have new arrangements in place in 2028, but the extent to which we can be confident those arrangements will be put in place without adversely affecting people that rely on the vital services we deliver.
“We will now take some time to digest this news and assess the impact on the LGR timetable.”
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