Exploring the options for local government reorganisation

Help shape how Brighton & Hove responds to big changes in local government.

The government is planning a major reorganisation of how local councils work and has asked councils in Sussex to put forward proposals. 

This is called Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and is part of a wider plans outlined in the English Devolution White Paper.

Help shape our response to government

We’d like your help to shape our response. What you tell us will inform the proposal we send to the government.

The government wants to abolish two tier county and district councils, like East Sussex County Council and Lewes District Council, with new single councils called ‘unitary’ councils. These new councils would take on all local services under one roof, from roads and housing to planning and care for adults.

Unlike other councils in Sussex, Brighton & Hove is already a unitary council but we're still affected. The government says that councils like ours need to grow to stay strong and financially secure. That means looking at our boundaries to better reflect how people live, travel and use local services.

We don’t control when or how these changes happen, but we do have a chance to help shape what comes next. If we don’t take part, decisions could be made for us without our input.

The options

To meet the government’s criteria for local government reorganisation, we'll need to grow our boundaries and serve a larger population than we do now. 

We’re consulting on four options, all involving merging with local government wards to the east of the city. This is because there are already strong connections there, like shared hospitals, schools, bus routes and people working across the area.

These options are based on the feedback and evidence we learned from you in April, when we first asked for your opinions. The early engagement exercise helped us understand local priorities and concerns.

We looked at options to the west as well. While those areas face similar challenges as Brighton & Hove, they don't offer as many opportunities to improve local services or make communities more resilient. This means they're less likely to meet the government’s criteria for reorganisation.

This change is part of bigger plans across the country. The government wants to give more power to the Sussex region by setting up a new Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA). The new councils will be part of this MCA, so what we decide now will affect how local people influence future decisions about things like transport, housing, skills and investment.

We’re aiming for a fair setup across Sussex, where every council has enough people, money and influence to run services well and speak up for its community.

Nothing’s been decided yet. Your feedback will help shape Brighton & Hove’s plans, but the government will choose which ideas move forward and what happens next.