Summary – There’s a lot of change about to happen in local Government. This will affect that voice local people have in the local services they receive. However, on Thursday 17th July 2025, Adur’s Labour Councillors Voted, unanimously, against asking residents how they would like to be Governed in a way that can actually CHANGE how we are governed.
On Thursday, 17 July 2025 I proposed a motion to ask the residents of Adur how they would like to be governed locally. This motion was voted down unanimously by the Labour Councillors present.
There's huge changes in local government on the horizon. On Thursday 7th May 2026 we will be voting for a Sussex Mayor - who will be elected to govern the 1.7 million people living in Sussex. On Thursday 6th May 2027 we'll be voting for Councillors to sit on the newly created Unitary Authority. And, on Thursday May 4th (Star Wars Day – couldn’t resist!) 2028 - Adur, with a population of 65,000, will cease to exist.
We're not certain what size of shape the Unitary Authority will take. We'll hear that in early 2026. However, there's only a handful of options being considered. We're highly likely to end up being governed by a Unitary Authority of wither 900,000 or 450,000.
Using Shoreham-by-Sea as an example. Looking at the current situation, the 21,000 residents don't really need the tier of government represented by Town or Parish Councils. Not while they are about one third of Adur - local decisions, affecting local people could easily be made by local Councillors
Now we need to consider what will happen when Shoreham-by-Sea is part of the new Unitary Authority. It's either 4.67% of 450,000 or 2.33% of 900,000 – will they really be able to look at local issues like the pavilion in Buckingham Park!
The same applies to Southwick. With a population of just 12,000 Southwick will be either 2.67% or 1.33% of the new Unitary Authority.
Now consider Lancing and Sompting – they are parished (the same tier of government as Town Councils). They have a population of 19,000 and 9,000 respectively. When the Untary Authority is formed, they will have local Councillors who attend Council meetings that only consider and determine local matters. Another 156 areas in West Sussex have Town or Parish Councils – Shoreham-by-Sea and Southwick are, pretty much, the odd ones out!
Now to the core of the matter (sorry it took so long – it’s a simple matter, with a complex background), I proposed a motion, seconded by Conservative Councillor Carol Albury. That motion was:
“To Conduct a Community Governance Review of Adur District.”
That motion was supported by Shoreham Beach Councillors, Conservative Councillors and others. But the Labour Councillors present voted, unanimously, to reject the motion.
What can a Community Governance review do? It’s backed by a 2007 Act of Parliament. It gives Councils, Like Adur District, the power to create Town or Parish Councils – after consulting affected residents on their wishes. Once the conclusion of the Community Governance Review is reached, that Act of Parliament empowers the District Council to form a Town or Parish Council without referring to the Secretary of State of the Boundary Commission – the decision is made locally, after consulting local people. Follow the link on this simple blog I’ve created – in the column on the right - I will add tho them as I get questions from residents.
As I wrote at the top, Adur’s Labour Councillors Voted against asking residents how they would like to be Governed in a way that can actually CHANGE how we are governed.