Local Government Reorganisation.

Yet more on this topic this month. I worry that this subject may be of minority interest, but people do often ask me about it and it will affect the provision of local services.

Councils were required to tell the government their preference for the shape of the new unitary authorities by September 26^th.

The County Council met on September 24^th and there was a wide-ranging debate on the proposal for the current East Sussex to be the footprint for the new body- The One East Sussex proposal. This was passed nem.con ( nemo contradicente- no-one opposing the proposal). A few abstained but across the political spectrum there was strong support. The proposal meets all the criteria set out by the government in their White paper. They wanted a population of about half a million, they didn’t want to cut across the boundaries of current councils and they didn’t want unnecessary disaggregation of services particularly care services,

Brighton and Hove had put together their own plan for 5 new authorities across the whole of Sussex. Each would have a population of just over 300.000 people, current District boundaries would be torn up, and all the services would have to be reconfigured.

Brighton have, of course, put their plan to the Government. West Sussex have suggested one new Unitary covering all of West Sussex. The Government will decide what will happen, but it will cover all of Sussex. The ball is now in the government’s court.

The One East Sussex option was strongly supported by Lewes District Council and generally preferred by Eastbourne, Rother and Hastings. Wealden District Council led by the Wealden Alliance apparently could not agree to accept either One East Sussex or the 3 new ones suggested by Brighton.

Waste Services.

Just an early warning that waste services nationally will be changing from next year.

All Councils will have to implement a food waste collection and disposal service. This will mean a separate food waste container. This already happens in some Council areas including Lewes.

More detail will be available shortly and I hope to do a fuller report next month.

Roy Galley

2nd October 2025

Roy Galley.cllr.roy.galley@eastsussex.gov.uk

01825 713018