Briefing note for NoM LGR - Full Council 14.07.26

Proposed · This went to the meeting on Tue 14 Jul 2026. What was decided is in that meeting's minutes.

The motion requests a Strategy and Implementation Plan setting out the council's approach, objectives and delivery framework for LGR, which would go before Full Council and form part of the council's Policy Framework after consideration by the Place Scrutiny Committee (or the LGR Member Reference Group) and Cabinet. p3

If the plan became part of the Policy Framework, Full Council would have a formal role in approving it and any material changes, while responsibility for implementation would sit with the Cabinet. p4

The note records that the One East Sussex proposal, for a single unitary council covering the whole county with Brighton and Hove unchanged, was submitted to Government in September 2025 by five East Sussex councils including Hastings Borough Council. p12

At the time of writing, the Government's decision on LGR in East Sussex and Brighton is awaited, with indications that it will be announced in mid-July. p23

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• p31.2 The Notice of Motion requests that the Council’s approach, objectives, and high-level delivery framework (including timelines, workstreams, risk, communications, and service continuity) to LGR are set out in a Strategy and Implementation Plan, to be formally adopted by Full Council and included within the Council’s Policy Framework, following consideration by the Place Scrutiny Committee (or the LGR Member Reference Group) and Cabinet.
• p41.3 If the Local Government Reorganisation Strategy and Implementation Plan were made part of the Council’s Policy Framework, this would mean that Full Council would have a formal role in approving that document and any material changes to it. Responsibility for implementation would sit with the Cabinet, which may only take decisions that are in line with the Policy Framework.
• p123.4 The ‘One East Sussex’ proposal for a single unitary authority covering the whole of the county, with BHCC remaining unchanged, was submitted to Government in September 2025. The proposal was developed by all 6 councils in East Sussex and was submitted by East Sussex County Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Hastings Borough Council, Lewes District Council, and Rother District Council. Wealden District Council (WDC) had worked with the other 5 councils on One East Sussex but at its meeting on 24 September 2025 WDC Cabinet made the decision to not submit any proposal. The proposal is underpinned by the business case and builds on existing strong partnership working across the county, including joint work with the NHS, emergency services and other partners, with the aim of maintaining and strengthening these relationships under a new governance structure. When the Government decided a further consultation was needed on a potential modification to move 24,000 people out of East Sussex into Brighton and Hove, all 5 councils who had proposed One East Sussex wrote strongly opposing the modification. WDC also wrote objecting to the proposed modification. 4. Engagement and collaboration
• p235.2 At the time of writing, Government’s decision on LGR in East Sussex and Brighton is awaited, with indications that this will be announced mid-July. 6. Next steps 6.1 The next step is for Government to announce whether, and in what form, LGR will be implemented in East Sussex.