Five new unitary authorities would 'save 52m a year'

"Creating five new unitary authorities for Sussex would save 52.4m a year, Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) leaders have said. The council's proposal for restructuring councils includes expanding the city eastwards to include East Saltdean, Telescombe Cliffs, Peacehaven and Falmer parish. Plans to stretch to Newhaven and Kingston have been dropped."

"BHCC is proposing five unitary authorities across Sussex, which would not align with existing county, borough or district boundaries. Instead, it said the new suggested boundaries had been "thoughtfully drawn to reflect how people actually live, travel and work"."

""Each council is large enough to deliver essential services, such as adult and children's social cares, with the necessary capacity and expertise yet remains small enough to stay rooted in the communities it serves," a council spokesperson said. "It also said that the distribution of population would prevent any single authority from dominating and give a mayor "equal partners" for future decision-making.""

Brighton & Hove City Council proposes creating five unitary authorities across Sussex, claiming annual savings of £52.4m and suggesting boundary changes that expand the city eastwards to include East Saltdean, Telescombe Cliffs, Peacehaven and Falmer parish while dropping proposals to reach Newhaven and Kingston. The proposed boundaries would not align with existing county, borough or district lines and are described as reflecting how people live, travel and work. Each new authority would serve between 300,000 and 400,000 residents and be sized to deliver adult and children’s social care with sufficient capacity while remaining rooted in communities. Some local leaders accuse the council of secrecy and of dismantling communities. Councils must submit plans by 26 September, and Brighton & Hove will debate the proposal on 24–25 September.

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