OPINION
Councillor Stephen Shing calls for answers following Government pause of Sussex LGR
Residents across East Sussex have every right to be confused about the future of their local councils.
Only a few weeks ago, residents were being told that Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) was moving forward. In July, the Government announced that it intended to proceed with a new unitary council covering Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden, subject to Parliamentary approval.
Now, the Government has paused the process and launched a review.
I believe residents deserve to know exactly what has changed.
My understanding is that the Government had already reviewed the proposals before making its July decision. There had been a consultation, responses had been considered and a formal decision had been announced.
Yet only weeks later, the Government has said that, following updated legal advice, it is reviewing the LGR programme to ensure that the process is robust, lawful and consistent with the priorities of the new Government.
This naturally raises an important question:
If the Government had already reviewed the proposals, considered the consultation responses and made a formal decision in July, what has changed since then? What has the new legal advice identified that was not identified during the earlier process?
I am not suggesting that the Government has acted unlawfully, and I fully understand that legal advice may be legally privileged. However, residents are entitled to understand why a proposal that appeared to have been agreed only weeks ago is now on hold.
There is also a significant financial question.
Councils have already committed considerable officer time and public money to preparing for LGR. If the proposals are changed or do not proceed, residents should be told how much money has already been spent and how much further expenditure is committed.
We also need clarity about what happens next.
At present, the proposed reorganisation is paused. The May 2027 local elections are expected to take place under the existing council arrangements, but there remains uncertainty about what will happen afterwards.
For residents, this is not simply an administrative exercise. Local Government Reorganisation could fundamentally change how local services are delivered and how residents are represented.
Before further public money is committed, I believe residents deserve clear answers:
What has changed since the Government’s July decision?
What has the new legal advice identified?
How much has already been spent on LGR preparations?
How much further expenditure is committed?
What happens to that expenditure if the proposals are changed or abandoned?
When will residents know what the future structure of local government in East Sussex will be?
Residents should not have to keep trying to work out what is happening from different announcements and conflicting messages.
Councillor Stephen Shing said:
“Residents need clarity, transparency and value for money. They deserve to know what has changed, why the process has been paused and what happens next.
“Before we spend any more taxpayers’ money, we need to know whether the proposed reorganisation is still the right solution for East Sussex and whether it will genuinely deliver better value, better services and effective local representation for our residents.”
The Government and our local councils now have a responsibility to explain clearly to residents what has happened, why the process has been paused, and what happens next.
Residents deserve answers before any more public money is committed.