Sussex is set to elect its first regional mayor in 2028 as part of one of the biggest changes to local government in decades.
The new role is being created through the Government’s devolution programme, which hands some powers and funding from Whitehall to local areas. Alongside this, as announced on Thursday 16 July, councils across East Sussex will also be reorganised, with existing county, district, borough and city councils eventually replaced by two unitary authorities.
A new Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority was officially established in April to oversee the devolved powers. Until a mayor is elected, it is being run by a six-member board made up of the leaders of East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council, together with one additional councillor from each authority.
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey is the board’s first rotating chair. Once elected, the mayor will chair the authority and become the public face of the region.
The Strategic Authority has secured £117 million over the next four years as part of a 30-year Government funding package worth £1.14 billion. Its role will be to make strategic decisions affecting the whole of Sussex rather than delivering day-to-day council services.
Its responsibilities will include transport, housing, economic development, skills and employment, climate change, public safety, culture, health and rural and coastal communities.
Supporters say a directly elected mayor will give Sussex a stronger voice when bidding for Government investment. Other devolved regions have used similar arrangements to secure major transport and regeneration projects. Greater Manchester’s former mayor, Andy Burnham, has become one of the country’s most influential regional politicians, while the West Midlands Combined Authority has overseen major investment in rail stations and tram extensions.
The mayor will not have unrestricted powers, however. Decisions will still require the agreement of the Strategic Authority board, made up of representatives from across Sussex.
Some details remain to be decided, including where the authority will be permanently based and how many staff it will employ. A chief executive is expected to head the organisation, with board, scrutiny and audit meetings rotating between East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove.
The next meeting of the Strategic Authority board is due to take place on 29 July, with the venue yet to be confirmed.
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