About One East Sussex
National government has begun reorganising local government. Its aim is for people to be served by just one local council – known as a unitary authority or unitary council.
In East Sussex this means moving away from the current two-tier model of county council (East Sussex County Council) and borough or district councils (Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden).
Government believes bringing together council services into one organisation can:
- deliver efficiency savings and create opportunities for improving public services
- enhance accountability by making it easier for residents to understand who is responsible for which public services and local decisions
- smooth the process of devolution to strategic authorities, and make it simpler for the government to transfer functions to local leaders.
Alongside local government reorganisation, national government have also introduced a strategic authority for the whole of Sussex, including an elected mayor. The Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority (SBSA) will have funding and powers to plan and decide long-term issues which affect the whole area.
A new mayor for the whole of Sussex will be elected in May 2028.