Share your early thoughts on local government reorganisation

The UK government has asked Brighton & Hove City Council if we'd like to be part of local government reorganisation.

The government has set out that areas that are currently two tier, where services are split between a county and district or borough councils, will become unitary councils where all services are delivered together.

Brighton & Hove City Council is already a Unitary Authority, but we're neighboured by two tier authorities that will all change. As they change there is the potential for us to combine with other areas in Sussex

Any change needs to:

• have sensible geographical areas and preferably be on existing district boundaries although the Government is open to the breaking up of district areas where there is strong justification
• maintain financial sustainability
• minimise fragmentation of services
• consider issues of local identity and cultural and historic importance

Government guidance is to increase the size of new unitary authorities to between 350,000 to 500,000 residents which would mean between 3-5 unitary authorities across the footprint of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.

Let us know your early thoughts

We want to get your early thoughts before we submit our more detailed engagement plans and plan to develop proposals to government on Friday 21 March.

Residents, businesses and organisations are invited to give their initial views on whether Brighton & Hove should stay as it is or combine with other areas.

We’ll then develop and consult on proposals between April and September 2025.