Maintain election alignment of principal authority & parish elections

Message from Wealden Council

You are probably aware the Secretary of State issued their decision on local government reorganisation in East Sussex and Brighton last month. In short East Sussex County Council along with all the East Sussex district and borough councils will be replaced by a new unitary council (East Sussex Council) covering the same geography as the existing county council less the four wards of East Saltdean & Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven West, Peacehaven East and Peacehaven North which will form part of a new Brighton and Hove Council.

We yesterday (17 August) submitted our views to Government as part of ongoing discussions regarding the Structural Changes Order (SCO) for local government reorganisation in East Sussex and Brighton. The SCO is the legal mechanism that Government uses to set out detailed arrangements for establishing the new unitary authority, including governance and elections.

As part of our response, we highlighted the importance of maintaining alignment between town and parish council elections and elections to the new unitary councils. Town and parish elections in Wealden, Rother and Lewes currently take place every four years, with the next elections scheduled for May 2027. Under the current timetable, these elections will align with the elections to the shadow authorities.

However, if Government decides that the new unitary councils should have an initial five-year electoral term (comprising the shadow year plus a further four years), the next unitary elections would take place in 2032 rather than 2031. To maintain alignment between principal authority and town/parish elections, this would require a one-off extension of the current town and parish council term from four years to five years.

We have therefore asked Government to consider this point as part of the finalisation of the Structural Change Order.

We are currently awaiting further information from Government on the final SCO and associated electoral arrangements and will share any updates as soon as they become available. In the meantime if you would like any more information please do not hesitate to contact me.

FROM: Policy, Insight & Engagement Manager & LGR Transition Lead | Wealden District Council