The Eastbourne Borough Council Scrutiny Committee met on 22 September 2025 to discuss a proposal for local government reorganisation in East Sussex, the council's strategic finance programme, food waste collections, and corporate performance. The main focus of the meeting was to consider a proposal for the creation of a new unitary council for East Sussex. The committee was also scheduled to review the council's financial performance and scrutinise upcoming decisions.

Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report regarding local government reorganisation and devolution, with the aim of agreeing on a proposal for a new unitary council for submission to central government by 26 September 2025. The proposal was also scheduled to be considered by the other East Sussex district and borough councils, as well as East Sussex County Council.

The report that the committee was scheduled to discuss stated that the government had requested that all councils included in the Devolution Priority Programme submit their proposal for a single tier of local government for their area.

The proposal that was scheduled to be discussed was for Eastbourne Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, Hastings Borough Council, Lewes District Council, Rother District Council and Wealden District Council to be replaced with a single unitary council from April 2028. If accepted, a new shadow authority would be elected in May 2027 to enable the transition.

The report stated that the Government White Paper on Devolution, published on 16 December 2024, set out proposals for Local Government Reorganisation¹ and devolution in England. Following the publication of the White Paper, Sussex and Brighton, alongside 5 other areas, were approved to be part of the Devolution Priority Programme.

The report also stated that the government chose to require East Sussex and Brighton to be treated as one area for the purposes of LGR, but that the leaders of the six councils in East Sussex agreed to develop a joint proposal for a unitary council based on the East Sussex footprint, given the strong and well-established joint working relationships within the East Sussex locality.

The proposal that was scheduled to be discussed was prepared in line with the criteria and guidance set out in a letter from Jim McMahon MP, the then Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution. The six criteria set by government were:

1) Establishment of a single tier of local government 2) The right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks 3) Prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services 4) Meet local needs and informed by local views 5) Support devolution arrangements 6) Enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment

The report stated that there had been close engagement with Brighton & Hove City Council as proposals have been developed, but that a separate submission was being made by Brighton & Hove City Council to government. It was expected that this submission would recommend the expansion of the existing unitary council to include additional wards currently forming part of Lewes District Council, a proposal strongly opposed by the East Sussex councils.

The report also stated that extensive engagement with local people formed a key part of the process, using surveys, focus groups and other face to face engagement opportunities.

The One East Sussex Business Case, included as an appendix to the report, set out the preferred model for LGR as the creation of One East Sussex - a single unitary authority covering the existing East Sussex County boundary, with Brighton & Hove City Council remaining as a separate unitary authority. The business case stated that this model had been developed collaboratively by all six East Sussex councils and is grounded in extensive engagement, robust financial modelling, and alignment with national policy objectives.

The business case also noted that alternate proposals from Brighton & Hove City Council to extend into the boundary of Lewes District Council had been in development as part of a parallel process, and that preliminary consultation on what has been known of the extension proposals were consulted on and were categorically opposed by Lewes residents surveyed.

The business case stated that the preferred model offers the greatest value for money, delivering a forecast net benefit of £25 million by 2032/33 through consolidation, transformation, and increased income, but that it does not resolve the underlying structural deficit, which is forecast to reach £226 million by 2032/33, and that additional funding and policy reform will be required to ensure sustainability.

The business case also stated that alternative options, including splitting East Sussex into two unitary authorities and boundary expansion by Brighton & Hove City Council were assessed but found to be less effective.

The report asked the Scrutiny Committee to respond to the Cabinet with any views it wishes to be considered.

Strategic Finance Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss the council's strategic finance programme.

Food Waste Collections in Eastbourne

The committee was scheduled to discuss food waste collections in Eastbourne.

Corporate Performance Quarter 1 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to discuss corporate performance in the first quarter of 2025/26.

Revenue and Capital Financial Monitoring Report Quarter 1 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to discuss the revenue and capital financial monitoring report for the first quarter of 2025/26.

Forward Plan of Decisions

The committee was scheduled to receive the Forward Plan of the Cabinet.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive the Scrutiny Work Programme.