Sussex could have its first elected mayor next year under plans announced by the government today (Wednesday 5 February).
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “An opportunity to gain new powers and investment for Sussex has moved a step nearer with the government’s agreement to make the area a priority for devolution.
“Following an expression of interest from the leaders of Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council, ministers have approved proposals to create a mayoral strategic authority for Sussex.”
The mayoral strategic authority would be made up of an elected mayor and six members – two each from Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.
They would be given “strategic powers for transport, public safety, health, environment and climate change, housing, economic growth, skills and jobs”.
Brighton and Hove currently has a ceremonial mayor who acts as first citizen, representing the area, welcoming visiting dignitaries on behalf of the community and chairing meetings of the full council.
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “As well as unlocking new powers and investment for the region, it would give the people of Sussex a stronger voice in how national decisions affect them and enable more decisions to be taken locally.
“The government will now begin a consultation to seek the views of people and organisations in Sussex.
“All three of Sussex’s upper-tier local authorities – Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council – agree that devolution could unlock new funding and give people a stronger voice over national decisions which affect them and greater power to steer major projects across the area.
“It follows the government’s white paper on English devolution, published in December, which outlined its aim to bring more decision-making down from Westminster to local communities.”
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey said: “This is an historic and exciting moment for our region.
“I am optimistic and ambitious about devolution because of the direct benefits I know it will bring to all communities in Sussex.
Councillor Sankey added: “It will mean that more money is directly invested in our area and that better transport, affordable housing and skills and job creation can be accelerated.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with residents, businesses and partners to ensure that all of our communities have the opportunity to shape the future.”
East Sussex County Council leader Keith Glazier said: “I believe this is excellent news for the people of Sussex because it’s an opportunity for more decisions to be made locally and for greater investment here.”
Councillor Glazier added: “I’m pleased the government has recognised our potential to prosper and develop together.”
West Sussex County Council leader Paul Marshall said: “This is fantastic news for the whole of Sussex and West Sussex in particular.
“A mayoral authority will give our communities greater influence in the big decisions that affect the region, such as our highways, housing and economic growth, plus much-needed long-term financial stability.
Councillor Marshall added: “I’m pleased the government has accepted us on to its priority programme, meaning we can unlock these benefits sooner rather than later.
“There is much to do, but please be assured we will continue our focus on delivering essential services and putting the needs of our residents first.”
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Local councils in every part of Sussex would work closely with the mayoral strategic authority and would continue to deliver day-to-day services.
“Alongside devolution, the government is asking for proposals for unitary councils in all parts of Sussex, moving away from the two-tier model of county and borough or district councils where those exist.
“Discussion with partners will continue on how this might be arranged.
“There are no immediate changes to the operation of local authorities in Sussex or the services they provide.”
“Brighton and Hove currently has a ceremonial mayor who acts as first citizen, representing the area, welcoming visiting dignitaries on behalf of the community and chairing meetings of the full council.”
And this will NOT change under these proposals.
I’m concerned at the speed of this. The devil is entirely in the details, and will need close scrutiny.
I’m not.
It’s very quick to set up these combined authorities which don’t need complicated infrastrure to operate because they don’t actually provide any services. The new Mayor of Suseex won’t be responsible for emptying the bins or for social care – that will still be the work of the councils
What will take the time will be the creation and then implentation of which councils form which unitary authorities and any merging / demerging.
IIRC when my home council became a unitary and the county council was abolished the process took something like 2 years. And most of that was legal work in the background on dividing property and other assets.
People on the ground like social workers, library staff and workign the bin rounds weren’t affected in their day to day jobs
You seem to be on the details, Where is Suseex, please?
Agree, no time for residents to have a say, which seems to be the pattern with this Labour council. Absolutely shocking they are not allowing residents a proper say on something which is a big change to local democracy and local authority governance.
A big mistake, in my opinion.
A big political miscall too.
I don’t understand why Brighton and Hove Labour are pushing this. Historically, when you look across Sussex the vote is conservative. You see this with the police commissioner. Now with labour hemorrhaging support, what chance do they stand in may 2026? If we’re not careful, our local voice will be diminished as labour shoot themselves in the foot
The reality is more complex. Brighton & Hove leans Labour, and Crawley, Hastings, and Worthing have all shifted away from the Conservatives in recent years. Metro mayors often win in politically mixed regions—Labour mayors lead places like Tees Valley and the West Midlands despite strong Conservative areas.
A Sussex Mayor would give the region a stronger voice in securing funding and investment. Without one, Sussex risks being sidelined while other areas benefit from devolution deals.
I don’t remember the Sussex-wide referendum on this.
No taxation without representation.
Invalid.
One of the best things I ever did was moving out of B&H Council’s area. I’ve lived in Adur & Worthing Council’s area for 6 years and I no longer have problems with bin collections, recycling or parking. I do NOT want to have any of the incompetent buffoons from B&H having anything to do with my area.
To make such a huge change with zero consultation of the people affected is undemocratic. But they know a referendum would result in a sweeping rejection of this hare brained scheme across East and West Sussex! Disgraceful!
Another layer of bottom feeders sucking up taxpayer cash for their own engrandment.
The Conservative Group in Brighton & Hove Council are not in favour of a Sussex Mayor. Cllr Alistair McNair & I, both gave speeches at Full Council last week against devolution & the extra bureaucracy & costs it would incur, together with the undemocratic process of being landed a mayor, without a referendum.
We are also bewildered of Cllr Sankey’s generosity as the only comparable measure is the Police Commissioner where Katy Bourne for the Conservatives has beaten Labour four times on the trot. Clearly Labour want a Conservative Sussex Mayor
Your opposition to a Sussex Mayor seems more about resisting change than addressing what’s best for local people. Devolution isn’t about more bureaucracy—it’s about bringing decision-making closer to communities and unlocking funding that Sussex would otherwise miss out on. Other regions with metro mayors, like Manchester and the West Midlands, have secured billions in investment.
The argument about a referendum is selective—Tories didn’t demand one for Police and Crime Commissioners, which are a completely different role. Speaking of which, the claim that Labour wants a Conservative mayor is politically naïve. Brighton & Hove leans Labour, and metro mayors are often won by Labour in politically mixed regions. The real question should be: why do the Conservatives want Sussex to be left behind?
Brighton and Hove will be turning its back on Labour at the next election after the secondary school admissions debacle. Extraordinary timing from Sankey and Taylor.
I agree, Cllr. Lyons; as mentioned by myself in another thread just now; Labour may have shot themselves in the foot.
My hope is for a reform Mayor and thereby introducing some common sense…
I think this is highly likely by May 2026 on the current trends. Labour’s popularity is crashing. By 2026, money will be even tighter so public sector pay rises will be tiny, sparking strikes. Improvements won’t have materialised (new homes not built yet, NHS still has huge queues and issues etc etc). Tories not able to shake their past. So people will look for different – Reform, greens and Lib-dems will benefit but, based on Sussex wide vote and Tory’s always winning police, I’d bet Reform out of the list.
At the very least, I see Reform being a more relevant party than Conservatives.