West Sussex County Council has chosen a single unitary authority covering the entire county as its preferred model for local government reorganisation (LGR).
A recent business case had found both single and two-unitary options were viable, but at yesterday’s cabinet meeting, members opted for the simpler, county-wide approach. This model would bring together the county council and all seven district and borough services under one authority.
According to the business case, a single unitary authority would streamline services and enable seamless collaboration across housing, social care, and revenues.
However, it would also demand a full structural, cultural, and service redesign to ensure the new authority delivers effectively for residents.