6 days Ago
People have until midnight on Sunday to have their say on the Sussex-wide devolution consultation. The government-led consultation is asking for views on forming a Combined County Authority with an elected mayor for the local government areas of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, and West Sussex. The consultation is asking for views on establishing a Mayoral Combined Authority in the area.
It includes questions on the proposed geography, how the Combined Authority will make decisions, and how it will link with local councils and services. Councillor John Hewitt, Brighton & Hove’s Cabinet adviser for Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation, said: "As a council, we strongly agree that the establishment of a Mayoral Combined County Authority will deliver benefits for our area. "The proposal will bring powers and funding down from central government to local areas so that decisions can be made locally rather than nationally.
"Sussex is a diverse county, so being able to make decisions closer to communities and our unique places has the potential to bring economic growth and address inequalities. "Please take this opportunity to make your voice heard and help shape the future of Sussex." 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.
A Mayoral Combined County Authority is made up of a group of councils who come together over larger areas that people recognise and work in. In Sussex and Brighton, it would allow councils to work together in a structured way and take decisions over a wider footprint. It would not replace councils but operate strategically across the whole region.
To take part in the consultation, visit gov.uk/sussex-and-brighton-devolution..
