Local Government Reorganisation Proposal
On Friday 26 September 2025 Adur and Worthing Councils submitted recommendations to the government to merge with Arun and Chichester as part of local government reorganisation (LGR) plans. The final decision on the preferred two-unitary option was made by the Councils’ Joint Strategic Committee on 24 September 2025 after Adur and Worthing council meetings earlier that week.
This document contains the Report by the Interim Chief Executive of Adur and Worthing Councils to the Joint Strategic Committee including the recommendations which the Committee agreed. It should be read in conjunction with the other documents which comprised the full Public Document Pack for the Joint Strategic Committee including the Shaping West Sussex Business Case, The Case for a Two-Unitary Model and the Thriving Together Report. Each of those documents can be downloaded separately below.
Shaping West Sussex Business Case
This document was jointly produced by all councils in West Sussex as part of the local government reorganisation (LGR) programme. It formed the core part of the Public Document Pack for Adur and Worthing Councils Joint Strategic Committee meeting on 24 September 2025 which agreed the recommendations to the government to merge with Arun and Chichester as part of local government reorganisation. It should be read in conjunction with other documents in the full Public Document Pack.
The Case for a Two-Unitary Model
This short document was prepared by Adur and Worthing Councils. It sets out the case for creating two Unitary Authorities in West Sussex – a coastal/downs authority made up of the footprints of Adur, Arun, Chichester and Worthing and a central Sussex authority consisting of of Crawley, Mid Sussex and Horsham districts.
It formed part of the Public Document Pack for Adur and Worthing Councils Joint Strategic Committee meeting on 24 September 2025 which agreed the recommendations to the government to merge with Arun and Chichester as part of local government reorganisation. It refers to the Shaping West Sussex Business Case and should be read in conjunction with other documents in the full Public Document Pack.
Thriving Together
This report, published in August 2025, sets out a Vision for the future of Adur and Worthing. It is based on the Thriving Together programme, launched in May 2025, by Adur & Worthing Councils to work quickly to give people a voice in the government’s planned changes for Sussex. The programme set out to shape the proposals Adur & Worthing councils have submitted to government as part of devolution and local government reorganisation.
It formed part of the Public Document Pack for Adur and Worthing Councils Joint Strategic Committee meeting on 24 September 2025 which agreed the recommendations to the government to merge with Arun and Chichester as part of local government reorganisation. It should be read in conjunction with the other documents in the full Public Document Pack.
Shaping West Sussex
This slide deck was shared at the Devolution Visions and Priorities Workshop run by Adur and Worthing District Council on 17 July 2025 in the Shoreham Centre. Councillor Jeremy Gardner also presented these slides at the ‘Big Debate’ on devolution convened by the Shoreham Society on 18 July 2025.
It outlines a list of options for Unitary Authorities to replace West Sussex County Council and its 7 District Councils in the proposed devolution plan for Sussex. It also includes a timetable of key dates for local consultation and preparation of a final proposal to be submitted to Government by the end of September.
AWDC Response to Devolution Consultation
This is a summary of the response that Adur and Worthing District Councils submitted in April to the Government’s public consultation on Sussex and Brighton devolution. It is based on views gained from a community leaders event they held at the end of March, in which the Shoreham Society participated, and other local consultation events.
The slides provide a useful insight into the Councils’ initial perspective on Devolution and the associated local government reorganisation that it will entail.
Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
A presentation given by the Leader of Adur District Council, Jeremy Gardner, to the AREA AGM on 31 March 2025.
It outlines the implications for Adur of the proposed reorganisation of local government associated with the introduction of a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the whole of East and West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. Jeremy’s presentation also explains in more detail what the powers of the Mayor will be.
