Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cabinet - Thursday, 9 January 2025 10.30 am

Venue: County Hall, Chichester, PO19 1RQ

Contact: Email:  democratic.services@westsussex.gov.uk 

Media

Items
No. Item

33.

Declarations of Interest

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personal interest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it. If in doubt please contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

33.1     No declarations of interest were made.

34.

Local Government Devolution and Reorganisation CAB08 (24/25) pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

Cabinet is asked to consider the report and its recommendations to determine the County Council’s position in relation to the recent White Paper published by the Government.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration of the report the Cabinet approved that the Leader writes, jointly with the leaders of East Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council, to the Minister of State for Local Government and Devolution:

1.     Confirming the County Council’s commitment to devolution and local government reorganisation as part of the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, based on a proposal for the devolution of powers to a new combined authority for Sussex covering the areas of the three upper tier authorities (West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove).

2.   Confirming the County Council’s commitment to developing proposals for unitary councils across the area including West Sussex to be included in the proposed combined authority for Sussex.

3.     Inviting the Government to postpone the County Council elections due in May 2025, for a year, to enable the proposals for local government reorganisation to be developed and to enable the early implementation of the proposed devolution arrangements.

Due to the need for this matter to be determined as soon as possible the Cabinet has secured agreement from the County Council Chairman for this key decision to be taken without prior notice in the Forward Plan of key decisions (Part 4, Section 1, Standing Order 3.57) (Regulation 11) because delay would prejudice the County Council’s interests.

Minutes:

34.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive and the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes).

34.2     The Leader introduced the report and confirmed that he had had pragmatic discussions with East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Leaders on a collaborative approach to the Government’s proposals for devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).  The Government has stressed the importance of a Mayoral model, and so working to align with this would allow the Sussex councils to secure the benefits of support for priorities such as economic growth, strategic planning, skills etc.

34.3     Cllr Montyn, Chairman of the County Council, spoke to the proposed timetable and stressed the importance of member engagement.  Members would have an important role in updating residents.  Members should also engage with the Boundary Commission for divisions within the planned Shadow Authority from 2027.  It would also be important to ensure that local authority constitutions were updated to align with any changes.

34.4     Cllr Burrett, Vice Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee (PFSC), confirmed that the short deadlines meant that PFSC had not had opportunity to discuss the proposals, therefore the views expressed were Cllr Burrett’s own.  There was roughly 50/50 divide in England of authorities that were unitary.  The white paper had outlined a strategic view of the benefits and powers available through devolution, and it was important for West Sussex to engage with the process.  Scrutiny would have an important role in overseeing plans for structures and outcomes and would need to have the opportunity and input to do this.

34.5     The following points were made by Minority Group Leaders.

a.    Cllr Walsh, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, supported the proposals of the white paper, but did not support the speed of the change nor the proposed postponement of the May 2025 elections.  West Sussex has a diverse landscape and so a major reform should follow a full consultation process involving the public, businesses and stakeholders to be informed, transparent and inclusive.  The direction of travel was recognised, as was the need to work collaboratively.  It was proposed that starting with unitary arrangements before devolution would be a better route.  Noted that East Sussex had held a Full Council meeting to discuss this, but West Sussex was just having a Cabinet meeting.

b.    Cllr Johnson, Leader of the Green and Independent Alliance Group, felt there was no need for the speed of these changes and queried whether the pace was politically driven.  It would be important to establish an appropriate balance of power with the new arrangements.  There would inevitably be costs from the proposals which would need to be considered.  Concerns were raised on the different landscape across Sussex, and unease over a potential rural imbalance which should be a focus for attention.  Proposed that holding the elections, but for a shorter period of office for those elected, would be preferable to postponement.  Noted that there are opportunities within the new arrangements but caution  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

35.

Emerging Issues

Cabinet Members are invited to provide any verbal updates on current, significant issues for their respective portfolios which may benefit from discussion.

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Minutes:

35.1     The Leader invited Cabinet Members to provide any verbal updates on current, significant issues from their respective portfolios that may benefit from discussion.

35.2     There were no issues.

36.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Cabinet will be held on 29 January 2025.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

36.1     The Cabinet noted that its next scheduled meeting will be held on 29 January 2025.