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Devolution in Sussex
Find out what devolution is and plans for devolution in Sussex.
You can take part in the consultation to create a new Mayoral Combined Authority for Sussex and Brighton.
The government is leading a consultation seeking views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas of East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton & Hove.
Join the in-person event at the Lancing Suite, Holiday Inn, Brighton Seafront, BN1 2JF, on 31 March, 6pm to 8pm.
Representatives from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will give a presentation outlining the details of the consultation and be available to discuss any individual queries.
The consultation will run until 11:59pm on 13 April 2025.
What the government wants to find out
The consultation seeks views from interested parties, including those who live and work in the area, on establishing a Mayoral Combined authority in the area.
It includes questions on the proposed geography and how the Combined Authority will make decisions, together with questions on the effects of working across this geography through a Mayoral Combined Authority.
The consultation specifically asks about:
the proposed geography
governance arrangements
supporting the economy
improving social outcomes
local government services
improving the local natural environment
supporting the needs of local communities and reflecting local identity
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:
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.
Brighton & Hove unitary and East and West Sussex County councils have agreed to support devolution in Sussex, with a strategic authority and elected mayor.
On 5 February 2025, the government accepted Sussex onto the priority devolution programme.
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 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
faster and simpler process for taking buses back into public control
statutory role for mayors to govern, manage, plan and develop the rail network
powers to coordinate road networks in partnership with other authorities
Skills and Employment Support
role in promoting pathways from education to employment for 16 to 19-year-olds
ability to help co-design and deliver non-Jobcentre Plus employment support
Housing and Planning
stronger partnership with Homes England to provide affordable, quality homes in the region
control of grant funding for regeneration and housing delivery
ability to set the strategic direction of future affordable housing programmes
Environment and Climate Change
strategic role in delivering Local Power Plans and the transition to Net Zero
coordination of local heat networks and input into Regional Energy Strategic Plans
leadership in Local Nature Recovery Strategies
Supporting Business and Research
collaboration with the Office for Investment to develop strategic investment
development of a future regional innovation funding programme
key role in boosting culture, heritage, and the visitor economy
Public Services Integration
new duty for strategic authorities in health improvement and health inequalities
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.
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 is now leading a consultation on devolution, supported by our councils.
Brighton & Hove is committed to listening and working in partnership in the best interests of residents, businesses and communities.
We will 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
Consultation will continue until 13 April 2025.
20 March: The responses so far will be discussed at the 20 March cabinet meeting.
Spring 2025: Results of the devolution consultation followed by a Ministerial decision on whether to proceed with a Mayoral Strategic Authority.
