Devolution in Sussex
This morning, in a wonderfully informative meeting with Rich Freeman, we found out yesterday was Sussex Day ( 16th June) and we didn’t even know! 😮
We were sad to have missed an opportunity to shout about the amazing things being done in Sussex and the grassroots teams championing their communities. But there is a big story unfolding right now that we think could use your attention: Sussex has been fast-tracked into the UK government’s Devolution Priority Programme. This means our councils - Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex - are working jointly for a combined mayoral authority.
If approved, we’ll see:
A directly elected Mayor for Sussex in May 2026
A new strategic authority with powers over transport, housing, skills training, environment, public health, and more
A shake-up towards fewer, more effective unitary councils, scrapping the two-tier county/district model
The local elections scheduled for May 2025 were postponed to pave the way for this overhaul. That’s how fast things are moving.
We know that many of our partners and the communities they work with have felt let down by local government in the past. There’s real frustration around decisions that don’t reflect local needs, and councils that feel distant or disconnected. This devolution process could be a moment for change, but only if communities are informed, engaged and listened to.
What you can do:
1. Get informed – the government consultation on devolution ended in April, but updates are due soon.
2. Stay updated – sign up for bulletins (like on Sussex and the City!) or follow updates from your local councils.
3. Have your say – once plans firm up, there’ll be another chance for public input before May 2026. Make sure your voice is heard!
Let’s use Sussex Day as a wake‑up call. We want to make sure Devolution isn’t just bureaucratic, it should be about bringing decision-making closer to us; building local prosperity, better transport and greener communities. Don’t let this slip by like our celebration yesterday!
Click the link to read more about Devolution and check out Rich’s podcast to learn more about what community leaders think of the process!