Residents, businesses and community groups across the county are being invited to share their views about the future of their councils as part of an important survey launching on 17 July at: www.shapingwestsussex.org

This is just the start of local government reorganisation in West Sussex and as they move through the process, they will continue to seek your views.

All councils in the area - Adur District Council, Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council, West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council - are working together to gather views that will help shape proposals for the future of local government in the county. The government has asked councils to explore how local government reorganisation could work in the area, with the aim of creating a new unitary council model, or models – replacing the current two-tier system with a single-tier council responsible for all local services.

Local government reorganisation is a process of restructuring local government to simplify the way services are delivered. Instead of having separate county and district or borough councils, a unitary model brings everything together into one organisation – from bin collections and housing to education and adult social care. Town or parish councils will remain as they are. This is different from devolution, which involves transferring powers from central government to regional or national governments, whereas local government reorganisation focuses on streamlining existing local structures.

This is a significant change that will affect how local services are run in the future – and how decisions are made about the things that matter most to you. That’s why it’s vital that residents, community groups, and businesses have their say at this early stage.

Your input now will help build a strong foundation for a new council that truly reflects the people it serves. Once the business case has been submitted on 26 September 2025, the government will begin a formal consultation process. A government decision on local government reorganisation in West Sussex is expected in spring 2026. After this we will further engage with residents, staff, councillors and businesses on the design of how the new council will look. Further engagement will follow in line with the chosen model and implementation schedule. 

Whatever changes are agreed, vital local services will continue – from waste collection and public health to care for older people and support for families. The aim of local government reorganisation is not to reduce services, but to simplify how they are delivered and to ensure that local voices are heard more clearly in decision-making.

Leader of Worthing Borough Council, Cllr Sophie Cox, said: “This is a significant opportunity to transform how our councils best serve our communities - building a local government structure that is sustainable for the future, resilient to the challenging demands it has upon it and able to react to pressures now and in the years to come. The next phase of our Thriving Together programme is now taking place, this will provide an opportunity for residents to help shape our visions and priorities for the future of our places.”

The survey is now live at www.shapingwestsussex.org and will be open until 11.59pm on 13 August. Whether you’ve lived in the area for decades, work here or have just moved in, your views are important. This is a unique opportunity to help shape a new council that works for you, your family and your community.