Decision

Following
consideration of the report the Cabinet approved that the Leader
writes, jointly with the leaders of East Sussex County Council and
Brighton and Hove City Council, to the Minister of State for Local
Government and Devolution:
1.    
Confirming the County Council’s commitment to
devolution and local government reorganisation as part of the
Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, based on a
proposal for the devolution of powers to a new combined authority
for Sussex covering the areas of the three upper tier authorities
(West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove).
2.  
Confirming the County Council’s commitment to
developing proposals for unitary councils across the area including
West Sussex to be included in the proposed combined authority for
Sussex.
3.    
Inviting the Government to postpone the County
Council elections due in May 2025, for a year, to enable the
proposals for local government reorganisation to be developed and
to enable the early implementation of the proposed devolution
arrangements.
Due to the need for this matter to be
determined as soon as possible the Cabinet has secured agreement
from the County Council Chairman for this key decision to be taken
without prior notice in the Forward Plan of key decisions (Part 4,
Section 1, Standing Order 3.57) (Regulation 11) because delay would
prejudice the County Council’s interests.