South East council reorganisation plans clarified

The south east of England has been given clarity over local government reorganisation (LGR) plans before final decisions are made.

A two unitary council proposal for East Sussex and Brighton, excluding Falmer, is being taken forward, while West Sussex remains awaiting a decision and plans in Surrey are unaffected.

A plan, which would have seen all 14 Kent councils replaced by four larger unitary authorities, has now been withdrawn, though the government has stressed LGR is not cancelled.

Local government minister Jim McMahon told the House of Commons on Thursday "every area will have an outcome by early next year".

The plans have been controversial in Sussex from the start, with East Sussex County Council launching a legal challenge in protest and other local authorities considering the same.

It has now been confirmed East Saltdean, Peacehaven and Telscombe will be absorbed into Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC), with Falmer remaining under East Sussex County Council control.

BHCC leader Bella Sankey said: "Bringing our communities together reflects how people live and it will give residents living to the east of our current boundary greater say over the services they already use."

However, Lewes District Council leader Zoe Nicholson said: "We are shocked and deeply disappointed by the government's decision to press ahead with proposals that our residents have resoundingly rejected."

Elections for the new-look councils will take place in May 2028.

The lack of decision in West Sussex has been described as "frustrating" by Chichester District Council leader Adrian Moss, who welcomes the proposed launch date being pushed back until 2029.

He says councils across West Sussex "have worked closely together to explore the opportunities and challenges presented by local government reorganisation" for more than a year and will be ready when a decision is made.

Worthing Borough Council leader Caroline Baxter says the ongoing review will "ensure that any decision in our area is given the time and consideration it deserves".

Separate from LGR, the first election for a mayor of Sussex and Brighton is still scheduled for May 2028.

Maidstone Borough Council leader Stuart Jeffery described the delay in Kent as "deeply frustrating", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The government also said it could not confirm yet if the county would be getting a mayor.

Both Medway Council leader Vince Maple and Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran welcomed the prospect, which remained at an embryonic stage.

While Surrey is unaffected by the latest LGR development, mayoral plans are not yet finalised.

A proposed agreement for Surrey to get an elected mayor was set out in the Budget, and Woking and Surrey Heath MPs, Will Forster and Al Pinkerton respectively, were pushing for consultation on Thursday.

McMahon said a consultation would take place "probably around December".

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