| The government is considering responses to a county-wide consultation about devolution in Sussex.
Residents, businesses and stakeholders in the city and wider Sussex area were invited to contribute their views, which will inform the government’s decision on whether to establish a new Mayoral Combined County Authority for the county. The government is expected to report back in the next few weeks. If the decision is taken to go ahead, Brighton & Hove and East and West Sussex councils will be asked for their consent before legislation is brought before Parliament. Councillor John Hewitt, Brighton & Hove’s Cabinet adviser for Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation, said: “I would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and views. It is vitally important that your voices are heard and taken on board as the government considers the next stage. “We also responded as a council and strongly agree that devolution would bring powers and funding down from Westminster for the benefit of all our local communities. It offers the chance to bring decision-making closer to local people and enable us to harness the full potential of the region, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for all.” Brighton & Hove’s response agreed with the proposal to have a mayor directly elected by residents to be a regional leader. Elections for mayor would take place in May 2026. A Mayoral Combined County Authority can work strategically on issues that affect people across the region the most, such as transport, economic growth, health and environment, as well as enable localised decision-making on tailored policies and initiatives that address specific regional needs. Read Brighton & Hove’s response to the devolution consultation on the council’s website at brighton-hove.gov.uk Find more information about the consultation, which ended on 13 April, on the gov.uk website.
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