As you may have already seen, the final decision on the future structure of Local Government in West Sussex has been delayed. The Parish Council has received the below from Chichester District Council, to help residents understand what this means and what the next steps are –
We want to make you aware that the Government has announced a further delay to its decision on local government reorganisation in West Sussex.
A decision had been expected this month, but councils in West Sussex have now been advised that no preferred option has yet been selected. The details of all of the options under consideration and the process to date can be found at: www.chichester.gov.uk/devolution and www.shapingwestsussex.org
We are disappointed that the Government has still not yet made a decision on the future of local government in West Sussex and had hoped for greater clarity by now. Our priority is to secure the best possible outcome for our communities.
We have been working closely with the councils across West Sussex to prepare for local government reorganisation, and that work is continuing at pace. Whatever decision is ultimately made, we want to ensure we are in the strongest possible position to move forward and represent the interests of our residents, businesses, communities and staff.
The Government has confirmed that it remains committed to the current timetable and expects to make a final decision by October. In the meantime, it is very much business as usual. We will continue to keep our communities informed as soon as further information becomes available.
Elections for the new authorities are still expected to take place in 2027. The elected councillors will form what is known as a shadow authority for one year, ahead of the formal launch of the new authority in 2028. During this period, the shadow authority will operate alongside existing councils to prepare for the transition.
The Government’s statement can be found at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-07-16/hcws286. Further information about local government reorganisation can be found at www.chichester.gov.uk/devolution and www.shapingwestsussex.org
