We use some essential cookies on this website. We'd also like to set additional cookies so we can understand how people use the service and make improvements.
It means changing how local councils are arranged. Services will stay the same, but a new and different council may provide them in future.
The government wants to end the current two-tier system where you get some services from a borough or district council and some services from a county council. Instead, it wants to replace them with just one council (a system known as ‘unitary government’).
The government set these plans out in a report in December 2024: English Devolution White Paper: Power and partnership: Foundations for growth – GOV.UK
It suggested new councils should cover an area of at least 500,000 people. The population of East Sussex is over 550,000 which is one reason why we have suggested a single council for the whole of East Sussex.
You can find out more about what the different types of council do on the gov.uk website but in summary:
There are five of these councils in East Sussex: Eastbourne Borough Council Hastings Borough Council, Lewes District Council, Rother District Council and Wealden District Council.
One East Sussex suggests people in East Sussex would be best served by a single council covering the whole area.
It was drawn up by all the councils in East Sussex and submitted to Government in September 2025 by Eastbourne Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, Hastings Borough Council, Lewes District Council, and Rother District Council.
Read the full plan: One East Sussex proposal
It makes the case that a single council would save money and avoid splitting up existing services. The plan also suggests this model would make the most of the strong working partnerships which already exist in East Sussex. There is ambition to transform and improve services by working together and with local communities.
Yes. A proposal from Brighton and Hove City Council suggests dividing the whole of Sussex into five new and smaller unitary councils. Under this plan, East Sussex would be split into two smaller unitary councils (one coastal and one inland) with some parts of Lewes district joining an expanded Brighton and Hove and some parts of Wealden merging with the Mid-Sussex district of West Sussex.
Another idea which has been suggested is a federated model, in which the five borough and district councils of East Sussex are retained and jointly provide the services which the county council currently operates.
It is not clear that either alternative would meet the criteria for new unitary authorities which the government has set out.
Yes. The Government is planning a public consultation on all viable options for local government reorganisation in East Sussex. This is expected to open in late 2025 and run into early 2026. Details will be added to this website.
A county-wide consultation on options for East Sussex was held in May and June 2025. You can see what people told us here: Have your say
Before a new unitary council or councils are created, there will be discussion with local people about what they’d like to see from a new council and its services.
We expect the Government to announce its preferred option for East Sussex in March 2026.
In April 2028. You will elect members of the new council in elections in May 2027. The new body will be formally set up over the months following that election. See our timeline page for more detail.
They will be replaced by a new body in April 2028 and will cease to exist.
That is not known. The new council(s) will decide how much council tax to charge after they are fully set up and have planned their budgets.
That is for discussion with the Government. The One East Sussex plan suggests 100 councillors for a county-wide unitary (for comparison there are currently 250 councillors elected to county or borough/district councils. Although some councillors have been elected to both.)
There is likely to be a reduction in some areas of duplication, especially top management positions. But everyone who work for local councils now will automatically transfer to the new council if they want to.
Yes. The estimated cost of creating the new council is between £30-35 million. This estimate is based on other councils that have already had to reorganise councils in their areas. This money will need to pay for things like community engagement, IT systems, cybersecurity, moving staff, legal and governance restructuring, and redesigning services. The existing councils do not have the money for this in existing budgets so will need help from the government.
We don’t know yet. The new council(s) will make decisions about what buildings are needed and they will ask people what they think before making final plans. We want to ensure any new council has a strong and visible presence in our communities. Some buildings might be used in new ways or shared but this still requires much further consideration.
All the functions of local councils will continue. The same services will continue to be provided by a new unitary council. It is worth remembering that it’s a legal obligation on councils to provide these services.
If a new council wants to remodel or develop services this will always be done in discussion with residents and through clear, democratic methods
This is an important point which many people have raised. Genuine and meaningful local influence over decisions is a priority in the plan for One East Sussex. The exact methods for ensuring every community has a strong voice will take shape as a new council develops. The Government may offer guidance on this but it is clear we must work with residents to find the most suitable options for the communities of East Sussex. One of the principles of the One East Sussex proposal is fairness, recognising we are made up of different neighbourhoods and groups and that we must ensure each one is heard and represented.
A new council must ensure people can find services without being online if that is their choice.
Yes. A new council will decide which exactly offices and buildings are required but this will include a range of options for in-person help and advice.
No – that is a separate change, known as devolution. It means that East Sussex will become a partner in a Sussex authority with a mayor elected by you in May 2026. The authority will also cover West Sussex and Brighton & Hove. It will have power over issues which affect the whole area over the long-term, things like transport planning, economic growth and climate change.
But it will not deliver your day-to-day services. Those remain with your county and borough/district councils and will move to a new unitary council in 2028. The new council will also be a partner in the Sussex-wide authority.
Yes. Many areas have neighbourhood councils which may maintain very local services such as playgrounds, public toilets or community buildings. There are no plans to change their status as part of local government reorganisation.