Plans for local government reorganisation fail to meet community needs

CPRE Sussex raises ‘significant concerns’ over loss of local knowledge and lack of consultation.

A charity says plans to reorganise local government across Sussex risk moving decision making further away from communities.

CPRE Sussex says, regardless of which of the current proposals to reconfigure councils in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove is ultimately chosen, the overall result will be a loss of local knowledge and nuance in decisions. The charity has also criticised a lack of public engagement in the consultation.

CPRE Sussex director Paul Steedman said: “Few people even know this consultation is taking place. There is no mention of words like ‘countryside’ or ‘nature’, showing a lack of regard for Sussex’s unique qualities, including its rurality and special landscapes. It looks like we will be left with a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to serve the needs of communities and their local areas. With the Sussex mayoral elections delayed until 2028, it is even more important that we get the infrastructure of our new local government right.”

The consultation on local government reorganisation in Sussex closes on 11 January. CPRE Sussex is urging everyone to have their say by taking part in the consultation here.

Read: Press release Local Government Reorganisation