Arun District Council is holding an extraordinary meeting to discuss and debate a report on the options for local government reorganisation in West Sussex, and to agree on a preferred option to submit to the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution. The report pack includes a business case that has been co-produced with all the district, borough and county councils in West Sussex. A final decision from the government is expected in spring 2026, with potential elections to new councils in May 2027 and vesting day on 1 April 2028.

Local Government Reorganisation in West Sussex

The main item for discussion is the local government reorganisation (LGR) in West Sussex, following an invitation from the government to submit proposals for unitary councils. The report pack includes a business case that presents several options for reorganisation and invites councillors to review and debate the report. The council is being asked to agree that the Leader of the Council, Councillor Martin Lury, submits the final business case to the Minister, alongside other West Sussex authorities. The council will be asked to formally resolve to support one of the options.

The Public Reports Pack includes the document 'Shaping West Sussex: The case for a Two-Unitary Model for West Sussex' at Appendix 3. This document puts forward the case for creating two unitary councils: large enough to be efficient, but small enough to be connected to the communities they serve.

The report pack states that the government has indicated that new unitaries should aim for a population size of 500,000.

The report pack outlines several options that were considered:

• Option A: A single county unitary.
• Option B1: Two unitary councils, broadly west and east.
• Option B2: Two unitary councils, broadly south-west and north-east.
• Option C: Two unitary councils, broadly north and south.
• Option D: Two unitary councils, incorporating Brighton and Hove unitary.

The report states that Options C and D failed a viability test due to a financial imbalance.

The report pack also includes an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) as Appendix 2. A replacement page for the Equality Impact Assessment has been circulated, correcting figures related to residents' ages.

The report pack states that the long-term financial sustainability of any new structure faces significant risks, including the potential for reduced government funding from the Fair Funding Review¹ and the impact of the growing Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit.

The report pack also notes the creation of a Sussex and Brighton Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA), with the first mayoral election scheduled for May 2026.

The report pack states that the three upper-tier authorities in Sussex are working to create a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) across the whole of Sussex.

The report pack includes a letter to council leaders which states:

As your area has been successful in joining the Devolution Priority Programme, we will be working with you toward an election for the Mayor of the Strategic Authority in May 2026. To help manage these demands, I have decided to make legislation to postpone the local elections in your area from May 2025 to May 2026.

The report pack states that if the Minister decides to implement any proposal, legislation will have to be agreed by parliament prior to moving to elections to new 'shadow' unitary authorities, which are at this stage envisaged to be held in May 2027.

The report pack states that a shadow authority is one that is elected to carry out the functions of a new unitary authority until that authority formally comes into effect, which is commonly called vesting day , and which is at this stage envisaged to be 1 April 2028.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors and officers are invited to declare any interests they may have in relation to items on the agenda.

Questions From Members

The agenda allows for a period of up to 15 minutes to receive questions from councillors with pecuniary or prejudicial interests.