The Finance and Performance Policy and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet on 23 September 2025 to discuss the local government re-organisation in West Sussex, and to review the committee's work programme and the Cabinet's forward plan. The committee was also scheduled to consider any call-in decisions, and any responses from the Full Council or Cabinet to the committee's reports.

Local Government Re-organisation in West Sussex

The committee was scheduled to review and debate a report by the Leader of the Council regarding the submission of a business case and proposal for local government re-organisation in West Sussex, before it was considered by the Cabinet on 24 September.

The report pack included a recommendation that the Cabinet should approve the joint business case and arguments for local government reorganisation in West Sussex, as well as a supplementary statement. The report pack stated that the Cabinet needed to decide which model it wished to support, if any, in order to submit its proposal to the Secretary of State / Minister by Friday 26 September 2025.

The report pack noted that on 5 February 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution had written to the Leader of the Council, and the Leaders of the County Council and other Districts and Boroughs in West Sussex, asking them to work together to develop a proposal for local government reorganisation. The council was asked to submit an interim plan by 21 March 2025 and a full proposal by 26 September 2025.

The report pack stated that the Leader of the Council had discussed options with the leaders of the opposition groups at Horsham District Council, the Chairs of the two Policy and Scrutiny Committees and his own political group, and that he believed that the best option for Horsham District and its residents was B2: Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex. The main reasons given for this decision were:

• 62% of the public, 55% of staff and 58% stakeholders countywide prefer two councils
• the Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex area covers the Gatwick Diamond, of which Horsham District forms a part and shares travel to work and housing market areas, this gives the best opportunity for economic growth for our district and the benefits economic growth gives to our communities
• smaller councils allow a more local focus on housing, social care, prevention, leisure and community support services
• having two councils in West Sussex means four seats on the board of the Mayoral Strategic Authority for West Sussex, which better reflects the size of the West Sussex population compared to those of East Sussex and Brighton & Hove
• a higher number of Councillors in the two-council model means better access to democracy for residents and a more manageable workload for Councillors.

The report pack also included a Supplementary Statement A Two-Unitary Model for West Sussex 24092025 Cabinet.pdf, which stated that:

This statement presents a strong, evidence-based case for the reorganisation of local government in West Sussex into a two-unitary authority model. The proposal presents a sustainable, responsive and ambitious future for the county's residents, businesses, and communities. It moves beyond the limitations of the current two-tier system to unlock public service reform, drive local economic growth and empower communities. The proposed councils are strategically sized to be large enough for financial resilience and small enough to remain agile, accessible and deeply connected to the communities they serve enhancing local identity and democratic accountability.

The report pack stated that the Civil Servants at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government would review the business case and put forward the viable options for a technical consultation during the autumn, and that the Minister would reach a decision on which option in the business case would be implemented early in the new year. The Secretary of State would then lay the order to set up the new council during 2026 or early 2027, with the new council being elected in a shadow form on 6 May 2027, and the new council's vesting day on 1 April 2028.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme¹.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to review the Cabinet's forward plan². The Cabinet Forward Plan, published on 1 September 2025 and republished on 8 September, included the following key decisions:

• Awarding the Revenues and Benefits print and despatch contract.
• Approval of the Shaping Development in Horsham District Planning Advice Note.
• Redesignation of the Horsham Blueprint Business Neighbourhood Forum.
• A request for construction funding for the Highwood Community Facility.
• The Capitol Refurbishment Project.
• Approval for the submission of the business case for Local Government Re organisation in West Sussex.
• Making of the Cowfold, Itchingfield, Lower Beeding and Pulborough Neighbourhood Plans.
• Appointment of an Independent Member to the Audit Committee.
• Dukes Square Affordable Housing Development.