Report to:	Leader and Lead Member Strategic Management and Economic Development
Date of meeting:	11 March 2025
Title of Report:	Proposal to seek views from Full Council on proposed response to  consultation on the proposed Mayoral Combined County Authority across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove
By:	Chief Executive
Purpose:	To consider seeking the view of Full Council on the proposed response to the Government’s Consultation on Establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove prior to the Cabinet decision.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Leader and Lead Member is recommended to recommend the Council to:

1) Note the contents of the Government’s consultation on Establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove Council and report to Cabinet; and

2) Express views to Cabinet on the County Council’s response to the Consultation.

1.  Background

1.1       On 16 December 2024, the Government published its English Devolution White Paper which set out its ambitions in relation to Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation. The Government’s clearly stated preference was for all parts of the country to eventually have a Mayoral Strategic Authority.  Having established the Council of Nations and Regions and the Mayoral Council, the Government’s policy places Mayors “front and centre” as fundamental partners to the Government. Set out in the White Paper was an intention to invite a number of places to join the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme. These places would be those that are ready to achieve mayoral devolution at pace.

1.2       On 9 January following a debate at Full Council the Cabinet agreed that East Sussex County Council should apply to be part of the Devolution Priority Programme. On 5 February 2025 the Government confirmed that Sussex was one of the 6 areas nationally that had been successful in their application. The Government has indicated that it is minded to establish a “Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for Sussex and Brighton”. There is a statutory process that has to be followed which includes seeking local views to inform the final decision by Government. The Government therefore launched a consultation on 17 February which will run until 13 April 2025.

1.3       The Cabinet is due to consider the Government consultation and proposed response on 20 March 2025, following a meeting of the Full Council. The report to Cabinet to which is appended the Governments Consultation Document and the Council’s proposed response is at Appendix A of this report.

2.         Conclusion and Reasons for Recommendations

2.1       The meeting of Full Council affords an opportunity for all Members to contribute to the debate in relation to the establishment of a MCCA and provide their opinion and view in relation to how the Cabinet should respond to the Consultation on behalf of the County Council.  Members are also able to respond to the consultation individually if they wish.

BECKY SHAW

Chief Executive

Contact officer: Philip Baker

Tel. No: 01273 481564

Local Members

All

Background Documents

English Devolution White Paper - GOV.UK