There are huge changes planned to local government in East Sussex – the biggest upheaval since 1974 when Rye Borough Council was abolished.
It’s part of the Government’s devolution agenda which has seen a number of local elections cancelled both in 2025 and 2026. In the second of two explainers, we look at how local government is being remodelled.
The Government wants to create a single tier of councils, unitary authorities, in places where there are currently two tiers – county councils and district/borough councils – including East Sussex.
These unitary authorities will have the job of running most of the day-to-day services currently delivered by the county, district and borough councils. However, there should be no immediate change to how residents and businesses access services.
The Government is expected to announce by the end of March how the unitary authorities will look.
Several options for Sussex have been put forward by the various councils, with two proposals affecting Rye.
East Sussex County Council, along with four of the district/borough councils including Rother, proposed two unitary councils in the east – one covering Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden, the other leaving Brighton and Hove unchanged.
Brighton and Hove City Council proposed five unitary councils covering the whole of Sussex. Under its proposals, Rye would be included in a new council which runs along the coast from Camber to the other side of Eastbourne.
Once the Government has made its decision, a Structural Change Order will go to Parliament for final approval.
While elections for the new unitary authorities will be held in May 2027, the authorities themselves will not “go live” until April 2028. Until then they will operate as “shadow” councils.
The Structural Change Order will lay out how many councillors will sit on each unitary authority, and specify the functions the authorities will have during the transition period. This should take about six to nine months.
Once the order has been made, the existing councils will carry on delivering services, while preparing to transfer all assets, functions and staff to the new unitary authority.
While the Government believes introducing larger unitary authorities will make things more efficient, others fear it will distance residents from their elected representatives – especially as there will be fewer councillors than before.
As for the town and parish councils that are already in place, nothing will change. They will continue as they were.
Whilst changes in East Sussex are being fast-tracked by the Government, changes in Kent are just beginning to be consulted on. Five different options are being explored for 14 authorities in the county.
You can read our first explainer on devolution here.
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