The Cabinets of East and West Sussex County Councils and Brighton & Hove unitary authority have agreed to support a Sussex Mayoral Strategic Authority, which could unlock new money and powers for the region.
Last week, a specially convened meeting of East Sussex County Council gathered to discuss the Government’s proposals for the reorganisation of local authority structure.
The Government’s white paper on English Devolution states that Mayoral Strategic Authorities will bring funding and local decision-making powers down from central Government to deliver on economic growth, jobs and skills, housing and transport.
A Mayoral Strategic Authority could give the people of Sussex a stronger voice in how national decisions affect them and greater power to shape major projects across the area.
If the Government accepts the initial proposal for Sussex to join the devolution priority programme, the Government will run a consultation to obtain residents’ views.
At the meeting held at County Hall in Lewes, opponents for a Combined Mayoral Authority (CMA) came in for criticism from Councillor Fox who said: “It is perplexing to see Labour members opposite, who campaigned for a Labour government, opposing the Greater Sussex CMA proposal which is a direct consequence of a major policy initiative from their own Government. It is also a proposal which is being encouraged by their own Labour Secretary of State and one supported by Labour-run Brighton & Hove City Council.”
The Government’s White Paper set out in detail the key areas that a strategic authority would be in control of to drive growth and provide support on shaping public services.
These include transport and local infrastructure, skills and employment support, housing and strategic planning, economic development and regeneration, environment and climate change, health, wellbeing and public service reform and public safety.
The government has stated that no final decisions have been made regarding the postponement of elections.
