Wealden District Council says no to One East Sussex council plan
Publish Date: 24 September 2025
Wealden District Council’s Cabinet has decided it cannot support the "One East Sussex" proposal for a single council covering the entire county, warning it would be too remote to serve residents effectively.
Cabinet is also concerned the proposal starts with a £50 million financial shortfall.
In addition, whilst supporting the principle of five smaller unitary councils across Sussex – as outlined in Brighton & Hove’s alternative proposal – Wealden’s Cabinet have said there has been insufficient time to properly examine the detailed boundary and financial arrangements.
“One East Sussex Would Be Too Big and Remote”
Councillor James Partridge, Leader of Wealden District Council, said, “A single East Sussex unitary council covering approximately 550,000 residents would be far too large and unwieldy. It would lose touch with local communities and be unable to provide the responsive, high-quality services our residents deserve, and – as our consultation clearly showed – want us to prioritise. In particular, we run the risk of rural communities being under-served, and under-represented. We know that residents appreciate close connection with local councillors who understand their area.”
Five Smaller Councils: The Better Option
The council’s Cabinet strongly believes that five unitary councils of 300-400,000 residents each would better serve Sussex residents because they would:
- Stay closer to local communities while achieving necessary efficiencies
- Better understand and respond to local needs
- Provide stronger democratic representation
- Maintain civic pride and local identity
- Be large enough to deliver quality services cost-effectively
Councillor Rachel Millward, the council’s deputy leader, said, “We believe smaller councils work better for residents. A council serving 300,000 residents would be big enough to be efficient but small enough to stay connected to the communities they serve.”
Despite supporting the five-unitary principle, Wealden cannot endorse Brighton & Hove’s specific proposal because there has been insufficient time to properly examine the proposed boundaries, or the finances, and their implications for local communities.
Councillor Millward said, “We’ve had days, not months, to assess proposals that will affect how our residents receive services for generations to come. That’s simply not enough time to make such important decisions responsibly.”
Councillor Partridge said, “Whatever the outcome, we will continue delivering for Wealden communities as long as we can – investing in community infrastructure, nature restoration and affordable housing. We will continue to lobby government for deeper investment into our public services and do all we can to ensure any future authority is designed with our residents’ needs in mind.”
Notes to editors:
The government wants to replace England’s complex system of county and district councils with simpler “unitary” councils that handle all local services. Sussex currently has two county councils – East and West Sussex – and 12 district and borough councils, and the unitary council of Brighton and Hove.
Other East Sussex councils are expected to submit a joint proposal for a single large unitary council covering the entire county. Brighton & Hove will submit a separate proposal for five unitaries across the whole of Sussex.
The Cabinet at Wealden has published a full position statement on their decision which will soon be available on the council’s website