The English Devolution White Paper

On Monday 16 December 2024, the UK Government published its English Devolution White Paper.

This paper outlines plans for two separate processes:

• Devolution – Establishing regional strategic authorities, each with an elected Mayor. These will cover populations of at least 1.5 million.
• Local Government Reorganisation – Replacing two-tier local government with unitary authorities. These will cover populations of at least 500,000.

What is devolution?

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It means that decisions can be made closer to local people, communities, and businesses they affect.

Devolution offers greater freedom and flexibilities for councils to improve public services and outcomes for communities.

More than half of the population of England is already covered by devolution. More information about these areas and the powers they received is available in the Plain English guide to devolved powers on the gov.uk website.

What does devolution mean for Sussex?

In Sussex, it is proposed that a Mayoral Strategic Combined County Authority is formed for the local government areas in East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton.

On 5 February 2025, the UK Government announced that East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council had been successful in their joint bid for inclusion on the Devolution Priority Programme.

What is local government reorganisation?

The Government’s White Paper sets out its intention to reform and strengthen local government so that communities are served by one unitary council in their area, rather than separate county, borough and district councils. The new unitary councils should cover populations of at least 500,000 (East Sussex has a population of 560,000).

This would create 3 tiers of local government for the area of Rother – a unitary council, strategic council, and town or parish councils.

What does local government reorganisation mean for Rother?

At the moment, nothing is changing for Rother. We’ll continue to provide all the services you receive from us. After local government reorganisation, you’ll receive all the services you do now, but from a new unitary council.

Final proposals for local government reorganisation need to be submitted to Government by autumn 2025. We will update you when we have clearer ideas of what the new authority could look like.

How will decisions be made?

The UK government’s consultation on devolution runs until 13 April 2025 and following this, a Ministerial decision will be taken on whether to proceed with a Mayoral Strategy Authority.

Rother District Council is committed to working with and listening to our residents, partners, businesses, local organisations and elected representatives to help shape the future of our services. We will monitor and share key information as and when this comes through.

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