Adur & Worthing Councils sets up working group on community governance
Released: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Councillors from Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council will come together to explore how local democracy can be best delivered as part of local government reorganisation (LGR).
This could include the creation of neighbourhood area committees or new town and parish councils.
Last week we submitted the business case on LGR that was developed jointly with all West Sussex councils to the government. As part of our submission, we have recommended a two-unitary option for West Sussex that combines the current Adur, Arun, Chichester and Worthing footprints.
We are committed to ensuring that local communities and neighbourhoods are represented and supported in a new unitary authority and will be setting up a working group of councillors that will engage with parish councils, stakeholders, local businesses and experts in community governance.
Community governance refers to the ways local communities are governed, represented, and empowered to influence decisions that affect them.
Ahead of any potential formal review, the working group will consider what good community governance will look like in the new unitary and how best to achieve it.
The group will also be tasked with establishing how community governance can offer a platform for residents and councillors in the new unitary to discuss and support initiatives that improve social, economic, environmental, and cultural wellbeing, contribute to community action plans, and advise on service delivery.
The engagement exercise forms an extension of our Thriving Together programme. Using digital engagement, neighbourhood conversations and deliberative events, Thriving Together created welcoming and creative ways for people to share ideas on devolution and LGR as well as the future of the places they live.
That process produced a People’s Vision with seven aims and 21 actions covering priorities that include keeping decisions local, investing in community and culture, creating better places, and focusing on young people.
Adur District Council leader Jeremy Gardner said:
“The working group will help us ensure that local views are represented and that the distinctive character and heritage of our communities are preserved and celebrated in a new authority.”
Worthing Borough Council leader Cllr Sophie Cox said:
“As we move into the next phase of LGR, it's really important to think carefully about how community governance can be more inclusive, ensuring everyone's voice is heard and our residents receive the best possible support.”
The priorities developed as part of our Thriving Together engagement will be explored at an in-person workshop on 16th October that residents can attend. To find out more, visit:
(PR25-073)
Page last updated: 06 October 2025