Hi

These frequent bite-sized emails are from the always possible team.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are together understanding the opportunities and risks facing growth, sustainability and identity in Sussex.

Sussex And The City is an independent and non-political project, clarifying the major reorganisation affecting Sussex and Brighton over the next two years.

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Who runs Sussex now – and what next?

Sussex is currently governed by a two-tier system of local government, with responsibilities divided between county councils and district or borough councils. But this may not be the case for much longer.

🏛 Current structure

West Sussex and East Sussex both follow the traditional two-tier model:

• County councils (West Sussex County Council and East Sussex County Council) are responsible for strategic services such as:

  • Education

  • Highways

  • Adult social care

  • Waste disposal

  • Public health

• District and borough councils manage more localised services, including:

  • Housing and planning applications

  • Waste collection

  • Leisure and tourism services

  • Local economic development

West Sussex has seven district/borough councils: Adur, Arun, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex, and Worthing.

East Sussex has five: Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother, and Wealden.

Brighton & Hove, meanwhile, is already a unitary authority, meaning it is responsible for all local government services in its area. It has been structured this way since 1997, when the former Brighton Borough and Hove Borough councils merged and separated from East Sussex County Council.

🔁 What might change?

In early 2025, councils in West Sussex submitted an interim proposal for a new single unitary council for the whole of West Sussex. This would abolish the county and district councils, replacing them with one authority delivering all services. The rationale includes reducing duplication, saving up to £34 million per year, and paving the way for a future devolution deal.

In East Sussex, the county council has acknowledged that the current structure is under strain and is exploring its options for change. This could lead to the creation of one or more unitary authorities, though no formal model has yet been proposed.

Brighton & Hove is not undergoing structural reform but has expressed interest in joining a potential combined authority for the wider Sussex region, which could lead to additional devolved powers.

❓ Questions this raises:

• What happens to local identity and representation under a single unitary model?

• Will centralising services improve delivery—or create new risks of disconnect?

• How will town and parish councils be involved in transition planning?

• Could Brighton & Hove’s integration into a regional body dilute its independence—or enhance its influence?

• What model will best balance democratic accountability with financial sustainability?

• And how do residents make their voices heard before decisions are finalised? 

We'll be launching a new fortnightly podcast soon, speaking to key people that will be impacting, or impacted by, these changes. Who would you like us to interview?

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