Devolution FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
What is devolution?
Devolution empowers local communities by transferring decision-making from central government to local leaders, allowing for tailored solutions that address specific regional needs, such as on transport, housing, education and economic development. Further information is outlined in the government's Devolution White Paper:
What is local government reorganisation?
Local government reorganisation (LGR) means changing how councils are structured to make them work better. This often involves replacing two-tier systems (county and district councils) with single-tier unitary authorities.
For residents this means that instead of dealing with multiple councils for different issues, a single-tier authority creates clearer accountability, faster decision-making, and better coordination of services.
The key difference is that reorganisation changes the structure of councils, while devolution gives them more power and funding to make decisions locally.
What is a mayor?
A mayor is the directly elected leader of a geographical region. Many areas of England already have mayors, including London, Greater Manchester, and West Yorkshire. There are also directly elected mayors covering single unitary councils.
What is a strategic authority?
A strategic authority is a legal body set up using national legislation that enables a group of two or more councils to collaborate and take collective decisions across council boundaries. Depending on the form of devolution in an area, there are three levels of strategic authority available:
- Foundation Strategic Authority: without an elected mayor. It will have limited devolution.
- Mayoral Strategic Authority: with an elected mayor, a range of powers will be devolved.
- Established Mayoral Strategic Authority: for those Mayoral Strategic Authorities, with additional devolved powers. For example, Greater Manchester.
In this area, a proposal was submitted to the Government to form a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove. The Government approved this proposal and a mayor will be elected in May 2026.
Two representatives of West Sussex and East Sussex County Councils and Brighton and Hove Council will also sit on this. When the new unitary councils are created, the leaders from these councils will sit on the strategic authority.
What is the difference between a unitary authority and a strategic authority?
A unitary authority would bring the services that lower (district/borough) and upper tier (county) councils currently provide to better tackle issues in a holistic way, for example bringing supported housing, social care and homelessness together.
The strategic combined authority will have strategic regional powers - such as around transport, skills and employment, strategic planning, regeneration and devolution of funding. Examples such as Greater Manchester, West Midlands and Greater London show the different roles between a regional combined authority and unitaries within it.
The government has published a Devolution Framework summary table to outline which level of local authority would do what. Sussex will be a Mayoral authority. See:
What are the timescales?
- 10th January 2025: East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove Councils submitted an expression of interest to join the priority devolution programme to the government.
- 5th February 2025: Government announced the areas that will join the priority devolution programme, including Sussex and Brighton.
- End of March 2025: West Sussex Authorities submitted an interim plan to the government with the progress being made towards the submission of reorganisation business cases in the autumn, aligned with the government's Devolution White Paper.
- Spring 2025: Devolution consultation on the plans and ministerial decision taken on whether to proceed with a Combined Authority.
- Spring to Summer 2025: West Sussex authorities working collaboratively to develop and assess unitary options. Adur & Worthing Councils engage with staff, members, communities, and partners to ensure local perspectives inform the detailed plan and provide a long term vision for the future of our local area. West Sussex councils launch Sussex-wide engagement survey.
- End of September 2025: Councils must develop and submit a detailed business case for how the new structures will help ensure the area is economically viable, provide better public services for residents and show how community views have shaped the plan. To read the business case, see:
- End of 2025 to early 2026: Ministers will consider proposals for the unitary authorities and the phasing of implementation of these with statutory consultations being undertaken on the first tranche of proposals.
- May 2026: Mayoral elections for Sussex as a region.
- 2027: Elections for a new unitary shadow authority.
- 2028: Reorganisation completed and unitary councils go live.
How have you engaged with residents?
As part of our inclusion in the priority programme, we have been working with other West Sussex authorities to engage with staff, elected members, communities, and partners to explore what devolution and LGR could mean for our area. This has ensured local voices have been heard and shaped the business case that was submitted to the government in September.
Why have Adur & Worthing Councils undertaken their own engagement exercise?
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has stated “it is for councils to decide how best to engage locally and provide evidence of that activity in proposals”. MHCLG also said that proposals should state how they “meet local needs and are informed by local views”. In Adur and Worthing we have engaged with the community through our 'Thriving Together - Devolution' programme. The results of this engagement exercise have not only influenced the proposals we put forward on LGR in September, but will help shape the future of our places and create a long-term vision for how council services can be run. The councils also took part in a joint survey with the other county, district and borough councils in West Sussex, called Shaping West Sussex. This ensured that Adur and Worthing residents had even more opportunities to have their say on the proposals for LGR in West Sussex. Now the business case has been submitted, the government will begin a formal consultation process.
What model of unitary authority has Adur & Worthing Councils proposed for West Sussex?
All West Sussex county, borough and district councils have been working together to develop a business case for local government reorganisation (LGR) that has now been submitted to the government.
It presents a shared evidence base for all councils but does not recommend a single preferred option. It is for individual councils to consider the full range of evidence and analysis presented in the business case and determine their own stated preference for submission to the secretary of state.
We believe that a two-unitary model that combines the current Adur, Arun, Chichester and Worthing footprints will be large enough to be efficient, and small enough for the new council to genuinely be connected to the communities it will serve.
What is the B2 (Coastal & Downs) option?
This would create a single unitary council bringing together Arun, Adur, Chichester and Worthing.
Why do we need to change?
At the moment, people in West Sussex deal with two councils:
- the county council (for things like schools, social care and roads), and
- the district or borough council (for things like bins, housing and planning).
It's complicated and can feel far away from everyday life. People often don't know which council does what. We believe there's a better way: create two new all-in-one councils. This is called the two-unitary model.
For Adur and Worthing, the best option is B2 - joining with Arun and Chichester to form a new Coast and Downs Council. Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex would form a Central Council.
This option has been backed by local voices - most residents, staff and partners prefer the two-unitary model, and within that the B2 option above.
What would this new council mean ...
For residents:
- One council for everything - bins, schools, social care, housing, roads.
- One clear route - no more confusion about who to contact; services made simpler and easier to access.
- A council shaped around the needs of the coast and downs and the communities that live there.
- More joined up services that enable a better focus on prevention to tackle health inequalities and the cost of living.
- Closer to home than a single council across West Sussex.
For staff:
- Confidence and clarity - one employer, clear responsibilities, less duplication than you'd have between district and county responsibilities.
- More opportunities to move across services with a wider set of functions than in districts currently.
- Keeps Adur & Worthing Councils' existing shared services together, avoiding disruption for staff and residents.
For partners:
- Stronger collaboration - easier to join up with NHS, schools, police and community groups.
- Councils that match the reality of local economies.
For councillors:
- Closer links with local communities than a single unitary, with councillors representing a smaller set of residents.
- Fair representation in the new Sussex mayoral partnership, ensuring the coast and downs are properly heard.
Will services feel more distant than if there was a single unitary council across West Sussex?
No - the opposite. The two-unitary model brings decisions closer. Councillors will represent fewer people than in a single unitary, so they'll have more time to act as neighbourhood champions.
What will happen to housing?
Under B2, Adur, Worthing, Arun and Chichester would be able to plan housing together. That means a fairer approach to affordable homes, tackling homelessness, and making the best use of council housing stock.
What about schools and social care?
All services - including schools, children's services and adult social care - would be run by the new council. This makes it easier to join up housing, health and wellbeing, so people get connected support in their neighbourhoods.
How will you ensure local communities are represented in a unitary authority?
As we enter the next transitional phase, a deeper consideration is needed for how inclusive community governance can ensure effective community representation and provide optimal support to our residents.
Councillors are being invited to consider how to deliver effective community governance in a unitary authority by setting up a working group to engage with parish councils, stakeholders, local businesses and experts in this area.
Where can I find out more about devolution and LGR?
You to read more about devolution and LGR here:
And keep an eye out for engagement opportunities here:
Page last updated: 25 September 2025