Ministers have approved a plan to elect the first mayor of Sussex next year as part of the government’s devolution programme.
It was a move that would lead to more affordable housing and more jobs, Councillor Bella Sankey, the Labour leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said this afternoon (Thursday 17 July).
The directly elected mayor would head a “mayoral combined county authority” and the first mayoral election is due to take place next May, probably using the first past the post voting system.
The mayoral authority would bring together the area’s “upper tier” councils – currently Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council.
Existing councils would continue to deliver day-to-day services, with a shake up of all Sussex councils also on the cards for 2027.
The Devolution Bill 2025, published in the past week, sets out how powers would be devolved from the government to the mayoral authority.
The government said that this would enable more decisions to be shaped with and by the people who live and work here including some of the things that affect residents the most such as transport, housing, jobs, economic growth and public safety.
Councillor Sankey said: “This is an historic and exciting moment for our region.
“Brighton and Sussex already has so much to offer but devolution will unlock powers and funding that will drive economic growth and investment in infrastructure, affordable housing and job creation – things all parts of the region want to see.
“Decisions about the things that matter to all of us will be made closer to local people, communities and businesses affected.
“Just look at the progress other devolved areas like Manchester and Liverpool have made on bus connectivity, inward investment, affordable housing and skills.
“Too many people are in insecure housing, unrewarding work or struggling to access the support they need. We’re also facing a climate emergency that demands urgent action.
“Alongside the establishment of a new mayoral combined county authority for Sussex and Brighton, councils in the region are also consulting on the establishment of new unitary authorities in the region as part of local government re-organisation.
“There are big changes ahead that will offer great things for the region. This is our moment.”
The Conservative leader of East Sussex County Council, Keith Glazier, said: “I believe that everyone in Sussex could benefit from our areas working together and with an elected mayor on some of the biggest issues ahead, such as jobs, transport, housing and the environment.”
Councillor Glazier added: “This is a welcome step towards the goal of a Sussex devolution deal and we’ll keep working together to try to reach it.”
The Conservative leader of West Sussex County Council, Paul Marshall, said: “The government’s announcement is a major step forward in the shaping of local government in Sussex.
“By providing us with the next steps, we are now closer to bringing major decision-making on key areas down to a local level.
Councillor Marshall added: “This provides Sussex with a voice at national level to deliver on vital issues such as transport, infrastructure and health.
“I look forward to our continued discussions with our partners in East Sussex and Brighton in deciding the next steps.”
East Sussex County Council said: “This is just one step of a journey, with the next being local government reorganisation.
“Conversations on what future councils might look like are happening now across the region.”
Well if Bella Sankey says something it must be true, like Hove Beach Park being “the first new park in the city in more than 100 years”!
(oh hang on while I check facts, she got that wrong…) 🙂
Absolutely, one should question things and scrutinise. The devil will be in the details on how effective this devolution and LGA will be. One aspect that was interesting in this article is that both Conservative and Labour leaders are saying this is potentially a good thing.
Personally I think it’s great. Councillor Sankey may not represent you bunch of moaners but she’s forward thinking and invites democracy.
Another layer of bureaucracy and corruption. Not wantedand definitely not needed.
Try a bit of maths, when 3 are combined into 1 that means 2 less NOT 1 MORE. With 166 various councils and authorities in W.Sussex alone anything than means less of these manning every dustbin in the County can only be beneficial all round.
Also, in addition to that, parliament isn’t making decisions, but rather it is brought more locally, which has a strong evidence base of being beneficial.
Haha get the calculator out, if anything it will get rid of lots of waste and lots of bureaucracy. Every tiny town it seems in Sussex has a council with all the waste that comes with that. So road repairs, police funding, homeless housing, waste, transport, it will be the job of 1 council rather than 3
That’s the general idea, can’t be any worse than now with so much interference in trying to get anything done, so much repetition by numpties benefits no-one at high cost no value.
Quite agree.
I don’t quite understand how this can be true:
“It was a move that would lead to more affordable housing and more jobs…..”
Agree Billy. This is a clear lie. They have no way of knowing what the outcome will be. It depends on who wins political power. There is a high chance that reform will win and then what. This won’t be good for the people of Brighton. Not only are they taking power further away from the people, they are jeopardising the safety of many communities in Brighton
Utter nonsense from the self righteous left “Reform are jealordising the safety of many communities”. Reform are on the rise, Liebour are on the way out.
Another one got suspended today? How many is that now?
So you can explain this by virtue of having a larger space to work with to build housing and retail space, which happens from devolving an area, Billy.
If you consider one of the major barriers in Brighton currently is limited suitable space to develop on, there’s a clear potential benefit here.
That’s how I understand it.
Disgraceful decision – again going agaqinsst the wishes of the population.
Another pinko way of trying to get more votes.
The system works as it is.
There will be NO MORE MONEY – who do they think they are kidding spouting such nonsense?
It ain’t broke – it doesn’t need “fixing” – we should avoid it at all costs.
No-one sems to be able to say why this is happening… we didn’t ask for it, we didn’t vote for it.. why, why, why is it being foisted on us?
So true
Devolution has been part of Labour policy for years, well before any recent vote, and has been in the manifesto since 2019. In fact, Keir Starmer’s Commission on the Future of the UK, led by Gordon Brown, explicitly recommended giving local communities more say over funding, housing, and transport. So this is not some last-minute scheme, it’s been a longstanding policy direction.
Secondly, the claim that “the system works as it is” doesn’t reflect reality for many. Council budgets are under enormous pressure. Services like adult social care, children’s provision, and housing are all stretched.
If the system truly worked, we wouldn’t have families forced into expensive emergency housing, record backlogs in SEND support, and local authorities teetering on bankruptcy. Rather than relying on rigid national rules that often fail to address local needs.
You may not agree with the approach, but it’s not being “foisted” on people. It’s a policy many voted for, and arguably a necessary step to deal with a broken funding model and growing local inequality, Chris.
Look at LONDON, Khan has turned the city into a no go area ridden with crime. He takes no notice of the residents of London. SUSSEX will become the same as its bringing more politics into local decisions. I hope it backfires and we get a REFORM MAYOR in.
Robert, that is so not true. When did you last visit London?
For sure, London has gone through some demographic changes. But I still walk everywhere, quite safely.
Absolute cinema. You do understand what politics is, right, Robert?