Opposition councillors in Brighton and Hove have voiced concerns about elections and fair representation as the government announced its devolution plans today (Wednesday 5 February).
Sussex could have its first elected mayor next year, along with new devolved authorities in five other areas of the country – Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Essex, Hampshire and Solent and Norfolk and Suffolk.
A proposed new strategic authority would be made up of an elected mayor and six members – two each from Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex.
They would be given “strategic powers for transport, public safety, health, environment and climate change, housing, economic growth, skills and jobs”.
The leader of the opposition on Brighton and Hove City Council, Green councillor Steve Davis, said that the proposals should be put to the people in a referendum.
Councillor Davis said: “As Greens, we believe decision-making should be made at the most local level possible and that the priority of any electoral reform should be to make elections fairer and more representative. That’s not what these proposals do.
“While we welcome more powers around public transportation especially, these should be given to a proportionally representative authority, not a mayor elected by a first past the post vote.
“If the government truly believe this is something people are crying out for, they should put it to a public referendum so residents can have their say.
“The proposed restructuring of local authorities will also see councils put further away from those they are there to represent.
“Under the current proposals, we would have to have an authority representing twice the number of people Brighton and Hove City Council currently does – absolutely nobody is calling out for this.
“We have an opportunity here to shift to a system where people can have their views better represented and candidates delivered by consensus, not division.
“We hope the government will truly listen to their upcoming consultation and change their proposals to make our local democracy both fairer and stronger.”
The Conservative leaders of West Sussex County Council, Paul Marshall, and East Sussex County Council, Keith Glazier, backed the proposals but the changes have been criticised by the party’s councillors in Brighton and Hove.
Councillor Alistair McNair, leader of the Conservatives on Brighton and Hove City Council, said that devolution would not speed up house building. It would just create a new layer of government.
Councillor McNair said: “There’ll be clashes between councils and mayors who will undoubtedly gather more and more powers over time and dominate the discussion.
“Doing away with green legislation might work – as Rachel Reeves is now suggesting with Heathrow and Gatwick expansion. A mayor will not.
“Labour will be creating dozens of Sadiq Khans – mayors who will do anything to stop a Labour government implementing their growth strategy. Why do it?
“Of course, there are advantages to devolution. Labour isn’t exactly flavour of the month, or any month, right now.
“Devolution will give Conservatives a real chance to run this city.”
Conservative deputy leader Anne Meadows criticised the government for cancelling the county council elections that were due to be held in May.
The move did not affect Brighton and Hove where the next local elections are due in 2027.
Councillor Meadows said: “This is Labour for you and its typical of their kind of democracy.
“It’s going to be years before the elections take place as the shadow elections will take place first, possibly next year in 2026. Then the real elections in 2028?
“(They are) shutting down local elections so they can arrange control and power of areas and regions in their hands.”
There are no immediate firm plans to change how councils operate in Sussex but the government wants proposals for unitary councils to replace the current two-tier model of counties and boroughs or districts.
Brighton and Hove City Council is already a unitary authority, dealing with all local government functions.
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh wants any restructuring to bring Saltdean together under one council.
The Rottingdean and West Saltdean councillor said: “It’s an historic anomaly for East Saltdean to fall under Lewes District and East Sussex County Council and West Saltdean to be part of Brighton and Hove.
“I have already requested that the negotiators within Brighton and Hove City Council to please do all they can to deliver a united Saltdean as part of the reorganisation.”
After the announcement today, the Labour leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Bella Sankey, said: “This is an historic and exciting moment for our region.
“I am optimistic and ambitious about devolution because of the direct benefits I know it will bring to all communities in Sussex.
“It will mean that more money is directly invested in our area and that better transport, affordable housing and skills and job creation can be accelerated.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with residents, businesses and partners to ensure that all of our communities have the opportunity to shape the future.”
A devolution consultation is due to take place before the end of next month, with mayoral elections proposed for May 2026.
The creation of new unitary councils will be a separate process, with “an ambitious timetable”.
The MOST undemocratic decision this CRAP government has done. NO mandate from the PEOPLE. NO referendum.
100% Councillor Davis is right on this – there should be a referendum and if Labour do anything less than that it’s an assault on democracy.
Shocked by how much Labour have turned into the Tories and pushing through policies against the views of the residents they are supposed to serve.
I respectfully don’t think he is. It’s important to remember that the government’s devolution framework didn’t require one—many regions, including Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, adopted mayoral systems without a public vote. The focus should be on whether Sussex benefits from more local control and investment, not on a referendum process.
Labour isn’t “becoming the Tories”; they’re responding to what’s needed for long-term prosperity.
This will just cost us all more. Another level of bureaucracy There should be a proper vote for us all.
It’s not another level though Hancox, it brings local democracy closer to Sussex and away from London, and that’s very clearly a good thing. Pick an aspect, and I’m happy to explore the pros and cons of devolution on that particular aspect in the spirit of improving knowledge.
The only hope is that Labour have shot themselves in the foot; and we end-up with a Reform Mayor.
Better than yet another layer of clueless lefties…
Given how badly both Labour and Conservatives are polling I expect we’ll get a Reform mayor as a result of a ‘protest’ vote.
Hmm, protest votes alone don’t win elections. I think it really comes down to articulating what devolution is and how it can benefit. There’s certainly a clear misleading narrative being pushed by the conservatives at the moment to instil emotive fear, rather than encouraging logical understanding of the concept.
“I have already requested that the negotiators within Brighton and Hove City Council to please do all they can to deliver a united Saltdean as part of the reorganisation.”
I don’t remember being asked whether that’s what the residents of East Saltdean actually want.
You think we want to become part of the mess that is BHCC?
Let’s not pretend Brighton & Hove City Council is the only council facing challenges. Lewes District Council has its own financial pressures and service issues. The argument that Brighton & Hove is uniquely a “mess” ignores that local government across the country is struggling due to years of underfunding caused by primarily by Conservative austerity.
Devolution was in the Labour manifesto. Multi-year budgets with the ability to move money between one budget and another is a huge shift in power away from centralised power in Whitehall. Local decisions for local matters only makes sense when local issues are truly local:transport, housing, economic development etc are bigger than parish politics
Right now, too many decisions are dictated by Westminster, often without real understanding of local needs. A mayor with a multi-year budget and the ability to reallocate funds could ensure investment is spent where it’s most needed, rather than being dictated by short-term government funding cycles. If other regions are benefiting from this shift in power, why should Sussex be left behind?
Bringing East Saltdean in under Brighton makes sense, it’s not right that East Saltdean gets cut off of the city boundary, they should do the same with Falmer. Uniting these villages in our city.
Hopefully if this ridiculous idea is followed up the residents of East Saltdean will get a vote. I don’t imagine they will vote to transfer to Brighton, most of them moved to get out of there.
The public MUST be asked to vote if they want a new elected mayor. We don’t need this extra level of government and the additional costs this will incur. Just look at London and the damage Sadie Khan has inflicted on its citizens.
We don’t NEED and certainly DONT WANT this new “Mayor”
Calls for a referendum seem selective—there was no public vote when the government introduced Police and Crime Commissioners or Combined Authorities. Many areas have gained metro mayors without referendums because the benefits of devolution outweigh the costs.
This is just a way for neighbouring councils to clean up the mess left by Brighton and Hove Council over the past decade. I don’t know of anyone outside of this bubble of local politicians who want this.
The idea that “no one wants this” is misleading. Residents want better transport, housing, and infrastructure—all things a Sussex Mayor could push for. Just because people aren’t talking about governance structures daily doesn’t mean they wouldn’t benefit from stronger local leadership and funding.
Unite Saltdean into the city boundaries. Also, do the same for Falmer. Redevelop the seafront into something special: green spaces, palm trees, key developments at King Alfred, Churchill Square expansion with hotels and residential landmarks. Do something special with the Leonard Hotel. Complete Madeira Terraces with bars and restaurants. Black Rock? Gasworks? Marina? Develop all these key sites, get rid of Asda and the car park, put them underground, then turn it into the Gunwharf of Brighton. Link it all up with a monorail, which would be a tourist attraction in itself. Let’s be the biggest and best city we possibly can be.
Simply extend the Volks railway into the rest of the city.
You’ve clearly never been on the Volks railway.
That’s a bit like saying the bumper cars we have on the Palace Pier would be a good alternative for pubic transport.
Not going to lie but I’d love the idea of riding around in a bumper car.
Why unite Saltdean into Brighton.
Ever thought East Saltdean resident don’t want to. E part of BHCC
Awesome ambition and couldn’t agree more!
It would be a lot better if ALL local Councils were abolished and we got back to County Councils with Less Councillors and more ordinary Business minded people running them.
At present TOO many councillors are making Wrong descisions and costing every Council Millions of pounds as they really are not up to speed with the needs of its electorate nor the Nations needs as a whole.
Lets get rid of Layers of authority in council and Healthcare.
We were OK in the old days before extra layers were added supposedly to be nearer the people.
Scrapping local councils in favour of county-only control would do the opposite of what’s intended—it would centralise power, making decision-making more remote and disconnected from local communities. The idea that fewer councillors with “business minds” would be better ignores that councils aren’t businesses; they exist to provide public services, not turn a profit.
The claim that councils were better in the “old days” overlooks the reality that populations, economies, and social needs have grown more complex. Devolution is about making governance more responsive, not adding unnecessary layers.
All smoke and mirrors to try and slow the inexorable march of the Reform Party. Every council bar one who are going for this change are controlled by the Conservatives. This is a stitch up between Labour and the Tories. It won’t work.
The only other Sussex wide elected official is Tory PCC Katy Bourne
Who ? 90% of Sussex says
Despite costing a huge money and being invisible . She’s won every election for over a decade because she’s a Tory in a Tory county.
So why Our Dear Leader Sankey thinks a Sussex Mayor will be any different , go figure.
Maybe she’s told what to think by Labour control in Westminster
Not sure she has been invisible in her very narrow remit. She seems to have been quite energetic. She’s a strong candidate for mayor
Does this mean that the local elections will not happen in May then?
If that is the case then from May, I will not be paying. I will put the money aside so when I do finally get to vote, win or lose, then I can pay what is owed. Until then I will not pay for an unelected body.
No election. No tax.
No, you won’t do any of that though.
Oh I will, and I will be encouraging others to do exactly the same. I have no intention of never paying my way, I just will not pay if I am not given the chance to cast a vote.
You absolutely won’t. Prove me wrong.
I do not have to prove anything to you.
As the elections will be deferred then so will my council tax.
It will go in a separate bank account marked as council tax, and will be paid when I have been given the opportunity to vote.
You won’t. You’ll be prosecuted and it’ll ruin your life. You’ll pay. Then there will be a mayoral election and you’ll vote in that. Then this will be forgotten
Don’t talk such rubbish. it takes a long time to even get to that point, and when and if I do appear before a judge and he asks me if I have a good reason then I will tell him and show the evidence that I never intended NOT to pay.
It isn’t only me, there will be thousands of us.
It is time to start letting these people who think they are unaccountable, know.
Are you old enough to remember the poll tax?
And for anybody interested…
Dear Cllr _____,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to formally express my strong discontent and frustration regarding the decision of _______ Council to cancel the upcoming council election scheduled for May. As a resident and taxpayer in ______, I believe that this decision undermines the democratic process and diminishes the voice of the community.
Given the gravity of this situation, I feel compelled to take a stand. Therefore, I hereby inform you that I intend to withhold my council tax payments after April 2025 as a form of protest against this undemocratic action. It is deeply concerning that the council has chosen to cancel an election, which is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of our democratic society.
I urge the council to reconsider this decision and to uphold the principles of democracy and transparency. Elections are a vital mechanism for ensuring that the voices of the residents are heard and that the council remains accountable to the people it serves. Cancelling an election not only erodes public trust but also sets a dangerous precedent for the future.
I hope that the council will take immediate steps to rectify this situation and reinstate the election in May. I look forward to your response and to a resolution that respects the democratic rights of the residents of ______.
Yours sincerely,