Council Leaders have welcomed approval of their plans to collaborate in a single strategic authority for Sussex and Brighton with a directly elected mayor.
The government has agreed to move forward with a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) and confirmed the first mayoral election will take place in May 2026.
The new MCCA will bring together all upper tier local councils across Sussex to operate across the region while, while existing councils will continue to deliver day-to-day services.
The Devolution Bill (2025) outlines how significant powers, and funding will move down from central government to a local level, where decisions can be shaped with and by the people who live and work here. Including some of the things that impact residents the most, including transport, housing, jobs, economic growth, and public safety.
The legal process for Sussex and Brighton to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) will now begin, this is known as a ‘statutory instrument’.
All councils in Sussex and Brighton will now look in details at the powers proposed and understand the financial implications, before giving their formal consent through their decision-making processes.
The legislation is expected to be agreed in parliament in the Autumn.
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