Devolution in Sussex

Local government reorganisation

Find out more about the reorganisation of local councils on our local government reorganisation page.

What devolution is

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. This enables decisions to be made closer to the local people, communities, and businesses they affect.

It offers greater freedom and flexibility to deliver better-targeted public services, economic growth, and stronger local partnerships.

This is achieved by creating a new strategic authority covering a region, usually overseen by an elected mayor.

More than half of the population of England is already covered by devolution. Successful devolution deals have demonstrated that a coordinated local approach can:

boost local jobs
address housing needs
improve services
accelerate economic growth

More information about these areas and the powers they received is available in the Plain English guide to devolved powers on the gov.uk website.

Government plans for English devolution

The government has a clear ambition to extend devolution across all areas of England. A White Paper published on 16 December 2024 set out the different devolution options available to councils and regions in England.

Upper-tier councils (unitary councils, like Brighton & Hove City Council, and county councils) were invited to respond to the White Paper’s proposal to create a strategic authority for populations of 1.5 million and above. The government asked councils to indicate their interest in being included in a devolution priority programme by 10 January 2025.

The White Paper also included the government’s direction on local government reorganisation. This is separate from devolution and proposes that all councils become unitary authorities. These would deliver council services in one authority instead of county, borough and district councils which administer a range of services between them. Brighton & Hove is already a unitary authority.

Read the English Devolution White Paper on the gov.uk website.

What’s happening in Sussex

Brighton & Hove unitary and East and West Sussex County councils have agreed to support devolution in Sussex, with a strategic authority and elected mayor.

Brighton & Hove is part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), which means that elections for a Mayor for Sussex & Brighton are due to take place in May 2026.

This follows an Expression of Interest from the 3 councils to join the government’s devolution programme following their respective cabinet meetings on 9 January 2025.

Our joint aim for a Mayoral Strategic Authority in Sussex is to give residents, businesses, communities, and organisations a strong voice whilst providing strategic leadership to drive economic growth and prosperity.

There are no immediate changes to how local councils operate or the services they provide.

Local elections in Brighton & Hove

Local elections have not been postponed in Brighton & Hove.

There were no local elections planned in Brighton & Hove, so elections in the city are not affected.

The government agreed to postpone county council elections in East and West Sussex, which were due to be held in May 2025, to May 2026.

What a Mayoral Strategic Authority is

A Mayoral Strategic Authority is a new and separate tier of local government covering a region of at least 1.5 million people.

The proposal for Sussex is to create a strategic authority, with an elected mayor, to cover the whole of Sussex, which has a population of 1.7 million.

It would work with unitary councils to bring funding and local decision-making powers down from central government.

The elected mayor and local council leaders will sit on the decision-making board.

Examples of powers decentralised to a Mayoral Strategic Authority include:

Transport

Skills and Employment Support

Housing and Planning

Environment and Climate Change

Supporting Business and Research

Public Services Integration

A new regional level of government

East and West Sussex and Brighton & Hove councils are not merging. The new Mayoral Strategic Authority is a regional level of government which will take on roles currently held by national government departments.

Local councils will continue to exist and deliver the services they currently provide.

The government is separately making changes to the setup of local councils. Find out more on our local government reorganisation page.

The role of elected mayor

A mayor of a strategic authority is a directly elected leader of a geographical region. Many areas across England already have mayors, including London, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

The new mayor of Sussex will be given powers and funding from government. They will coordinate and drive improvement in our region with a particular focus on:

economic growth
improving transport connectivity
investment in infrastructure
setting the strategic planning framework for the area

They will represent and champion the region, working with government - nationally and internationally.

They will also work with local councils in each part of Sussex. While Brighton & Hove will continue to focus on leading and delivering vital services for communities, our council will also have a seat on the strategic authority.

Who the new mayor will be

Elections for the new regional Mayor will be held in May 2026 with residents across Sussex and Brighton & Hove eligible to vote.

The Mayor will be elected for a four-year term.

Engagement and consultation

Over the course of the process, the 3 councils have engaged with key stakeholders, including MPs and the leaders of districts and borough councils. We’ve ensured that all stakeholders have been briefed on the proposals and the rationale which underpins them. 

The government has completed a consultation on devolution for Sussex and Brighton and is analysing the results.

More information on the consultation is available on the gov.uk website.

Read Brighton & Hove City Council’s response to the Sussex and Brighton devolution consultation.

Brighton & Hove is committed to listening and working in partnership in the best interests of residents, businesses and communities.

We'll be involving residents, businesses, partners, local organisations and elected representatives to help shape the future of our places and services.

Timescales for devolution in Sussex

A government-led consultation on devolution for Sussex and Brighton ran from 17 February to 13 April.

We expect to receive the results of the consultation in late spring 2025. This will be followed by a Ministerial decision on whether to proceed with a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex.

May 2026: Elections for mayor.