The Shoreham Society convened the first public meeting in Shoreham on the devolution proposals for Sussex.
In Sussex, the political landscape is about to change. Next year, Sussex will elect its first Mayor, with devolved powers over key policy areas such as transport, health and housing. The following year will see the gradual disappearance of Adur District Council and its replacement within a larger Unitary Authority.
The Financially Viable Options
The proposals for that new Unitary Authority were revealed at a special debate organised by the Shoreham Society on Friday 18th July. At the meeting, Jeremy Gardner, leader of Adur District Council, presented three possible versions of the future, as agreed by Council leaders in West Sussex. All the options entail abolishing all the District Councils like Adur as well as Borough Councils like Worthing.
OPTION A – Single County Unitary
The first version, Option A, rebrands West Sussex County Council as a Unitary Authority and making it responsible for the delivery of all the services currently provided by the separate County, District and Borough councils.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, this is the model preferred by West Sussex County Council, on the reasonable grounds of cost-savings and continuity.
County Council and all seven District and Borough Councils together.
Gardner then presented two further options, both of which entail dividing West Sussex into two separate Unitary Authorities.
OPTION B1 – Two Unitaries
The first, Option B1, would see West Sussex divided down the middle. The western Unitary Authority would include Arun, Chichester and Worthing. The eastern side would include Adur along with Crawley, Horsham and Mid-Sussex.
- West:
- Arun
- Chichester
- Worthing
- East:
- Adur
- Crawley
- Horsham
- Mid Sussex
Two unitary councils split broadly on West/East lines and building on existing District and Borough boundaries. Adur in the East.
OPTION B2 – Two Unitaries
Option B2 would be very similar, except Adur shifts across from the eastern Unitary Authority to join the western Unitary Authority, finding its bedfellows in Arun, Chichester and Worthing.
- West:
- Adur
- Arun
- Chichester
- Worthing
- East:
- Crawley
- Horsham
- Mid Sussex
Two unitary councils split broadly on West/East lines and building on existing District and Borough boundaries. Adur in the West.
Gardner outlined the criteria for these choices. The most important was financial viability: would the new Unitary Authorities be financially viable, collecting more in Council Tax then they spent on services?
Join the Debate
The Shoreham Society meeting kicked off a public consultation exercise that will last until 13th August.
“I know there is scepticism about public consultations,” remarked Councillor Gardner. “But we really do want to hear what people think.”
That is certainly what happened at the meeting. There were plenty of opportunities for people to discuss the proposals and to ask questions.
Councillor Andy McGregor also presented a contrarian view, suggesting that Shoreham should apply to become a Town Council on the grounds that it would ensure more of a local voice, and sharing some eye-watering figures about the costs of reorganisation.
Comments from the audience made during the course of the evening were captured on Post It notes and by three facilitators who listened to the various discussions. These will now go forward to the website, shapingwestsussex.org, set up collaboratively by all the District Councils in West Sussex, together with the County Council. To add your own voice, just visit the website.
Jeremy Gardner’s presentation can be viewed here.
For further information find podcasts at the Sussex and the City website.
Or Shoreham and the eastern half of Adur join Brighton & Hove, and Lancing and the western half join Worthing and Chichester. This would balance out total populations better and be a more natural split by built-up area.
I live in Shoreham by Sea and would like Adur council to remain as it is.
Why you would “lump” us into a huge area, as proposed, is ridiculous.
We think Worthing and Shoreham should both be in the same option B, as they have experience of working together and in time there could be a sub-division of the main new Council area to make it easier to manage.
The residents will be used to much smaller councils and it may be very difficult to run the new authority because of its size. The Government’s attempt to save money is a pipe dream. Look at the history of Folkestone, Lydd and the Romney Marsh.
Always favoured the Adur Basin option. Adur, Horsham, Crawley, mid-Sussex. The old Sussex parishes ran N/S, so that each had sheep on the Downs, arable crops on greensand, pasture on clay, timber on sandstone. Taking our lesson from history we should go N/S balancing coastal deprivation against inland wealthier areas, shared employment, improving N/S transport links.etc. Also see Victorian constancy boundaries for Shoreham.,Thanks, Kim Matthews
I am in favour of option B2 keeping Adur with Worthing seem the most economical and efficient way to proceed. I would be extremely anxious if Worthing Hospital didn’t remain as my “go to” hospital as I have received excellent care there in the past.