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RESOLVED
 
i)             
That the joint business case and the arguments contained in the
Supplementary Statement for Local Government Reorganisation in West
Sussex, as contained in the appendices to this report be
approved.

 
ii)            
To (i) support the two unitary model, comprising Crawley, Horsham
and Mid Sussex in one unitary and Adur, Arun, Chichester and
Worthing in the second unitary (the Local Government Reorganisation
Proposal) and (ii) agree the submission of the Local Government
Reorganisation Proposal along with the business case and the
Supplementary Statement, or the arguments contained in this
statement, to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and
Local Government / relevant Minister for the 26 September 2025
deadline; and
 
iii)          
That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation
with the Leader of the Council, to (i)
devise the content of and write a letter for the Leader to send to
the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local
Government / Minister, to accompany and facilitate the submission
of the Council’s Local Government Page 3 Agenda Item 5
Reorganisation Proposal, and, (ii) make any corrections to the
business case and Supplementary Statement as are required.
 
 
REASONS
 
i)             
Cabinet needs to approve the business case and content of the
Supplementary Statement and choose which option it wishes to
support for the Leader to send a letter with the Council’s
opinion to the Secretary of State / Minister.

 
ii)            
The two-council option of Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and Adur,
Arun, Chichester, Worthing had the most public support, allows
better focus on our economy, permits more local focussed community
services, and gives better democratic representation locally and on
the new Mayoral Strategic Authority.
 
 
URGENCY
 
This decision was treated by the Cabinet as
urgent on the basis that any delay in its implementation would pose
a risk of harm to residents and/or prejudice the interests of the
Council.
 
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED AS
IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT
 
Cabinet could choose to not put forward any
preference to the Secretary of State / Minister. If Cabinet does
not give a view, the Secretary of State / Minister will reach a
decision based on the evidence in the business case and the views
of the West Sussex councils who do give a view. Therefore, the
Leader has rejected this idea.