Many of you have contacted me on the subject of Devolution recently and what it will mean for Worthing West – especially after I questioned the Prime Minister on it this week at PMQs. There is understandably a certain amount of apprehension about such a big change to our local government structure, as well as concerns about the postponed May County Council elections. So here is my take on what I believe will be a fantastic opportunity both for Worthing and for Sussex as a whole.
The new structure will mean that instead of having two tiers of local government – Borough and then County Council – a new strategic Sussex authority will be set up, led by an elected Mayor. In other words, it will be closer to Manchester and the West Midlands, which, as I’m sure you’ll agree, have seen tangible improvements brought to their regions.
As the Prime Minister said in reply to my question: “I believe those with skin in the game make the best decisions for their communities.” That’s because merging two tiers of local government into one will give residents a more direct say in how their local area is run. For example, we currently have one council responsible for sweeping the streets and another for repairing them, or one collecting household waste and another recycling it. Merging them will make local government more efficient, responsive, and directly accountable to residents – giving you a stronger voice in how decisions are made and your money is spent.
Perhaps an even bigger advantage is in terms of investment and opportunity. An elected Sussex Mayor will mean more funding and greater powers to invest specifically in what an area needs most, rather than having to bid for short-term pots of money from national government. Funding will be allocated on a longer-term basis and invested strategically in key priorities like transport, housing, education, social care, and economic growth. This is why devolution is being called the greatest transfer of power out of Westminster to the English regions in over a century.
On the subject of the May elections – there’s been talk, especially on social media, about them being “cancelled.” The reality is they’ve been postponed for a year so that those elected can serve a full four-year term, rather than just one – saving local taxpayers millions in the process.
Another question I’ve heard is: why the rush? Devolution was a key manifesto commitment of the new government, and by joining the priority scheme, Sussex residents will be among the first to benefit – and crucially, will help shape how the process works.
Members from all tiers of local government will consult with residents to ensure our communities are heard. As I said at PMQs, we must gain “meaningful control” of the future of Worthing West and our wonderful coastal town.
Devolving power away from Westminster to English regions is happening fast. Decision-making and funding should be in the hands of local communities who know their needs best.
To have your say, please take part in the consultation on the proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex. You can view and respond to the consultation here: Sussex and Brighton Devolution Consultation
The proposal applies to the local government areas of East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, and Brighton & Hove City Council.
As always, if you have any thoughts, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
