URL: https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1279

Decision Maker: Joint Strategic Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: Before the Committee was a report by the Interim Chief Executive, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 5.   Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) had been progressing contemporaneously to the devolution programme and the creation of a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) across Sussex. The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government had invited all Councils in Sussex to submit their Proposals for LGR by 26th September 2025.   Councils in West Sussex had been working collaboratively in developing proposals which were set out in the ‘Final Business Case for LGR’. The Final Business Case set out three viable options that had been considered for the formation of a new single tier unitary (or unitaries).   In addition to the Final Business Case, the report before members attached the document ‘Supplementary Statement: A Two-Unitary Model for West Sussex’. This had been developed collaboratively, its purpose was to reflect the outcome of the Shaping West Sussex and Thriving Together engagement; it presented compelling rationale for creating two unitary councils of the right size, large enough to be efficient, small enough to genuinely be connected to the communities they served.   The Joint Strategic Committee was asked to consider any comments from the Full Council meetings and thereafter approve as required, an LGR Proposal for Adur District Council and an LGR Proposal for Worthing Borough Council as outlined in the recommendations, to be submitted to MHCLG in advance of 26th September   The committee considered comments made by councillors and had been submitted prior to the meeting. Members of the committee were keen to emphasise that Local Government reorganisation was not primarily a ‘cost cutting exercise’ but an exercise in making use of resources effectively to create efficient and good quality services.   Members discussed the report and unanimously agreed that the B2 option should be the preferred option for both Adur and Worthing Councils     Decision:   1.    That the Joint Strategic Committee Agree the recommendation of the Leaders to submit option B2 as the preferred option for both Adur and Worthing Councils;   2.    That authority be delegated to the Interim Chief Executive in consultation with the Leaders of Adur and Worthing Councils to submit the Letters of Preference on their behalf to MHCLG, confirming the approved LGR Option by 26th September.   3.    That a cross party Working Group be created to review the options for community governance for the residents of Adur and Worthing.     Call In: In accordance with the provisions of procedure rule 18.6 of the Overview and Scrutiny procedure rules found in the Councils’ Constitutions, The Joint Chairs of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee have agreed that the implementation of the executive decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred. It was therefore agreed that the decision should not be subject to call in:

Date of Decision: September 24, 2025