Sussex Steps Closer To Having First Elected Mayor

Plans to create a new mayoral Combined County Authority (CCA) for Sussex have taken a major step forward, after West Sussex County Council agreed to join the scheme.

Both East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council had already voted to move forward — and West Sussex followed suit on October 22, giving the project the green light across the region.

The move is part of the Government’s wider devolution plan, which will see the three existing councils replaced by the Sussex & Brighton Combined County Authority, led by the first-ever Mayor of Sussex.

The proposal will now go before Parliament for approval. If passed, the first mayoral election is expected to take place on May 7, 2026, with the mayor officially taking office on May 11.

Once established, the new authority will receive £38 million per year for 30 years — more than £1.1 billion in total — to invest in local priorities such as transport, housing, jobs, and climate action.

West Sussex County Council’s Chief Executive, Leigh Whitehouse, described the decision as “a really important milestone” and “a critical step for West Sussex.”

Conservative councillor Pete Bradbury, representing Cuckfield & Lucastes, expressed concern over the government’s choice of name — Sussex & Brighton Combined County Authority — saying it was “unfortunate” that the title did not simply use Sussex.

He added that voters would need to “think quite carefully about the person they are choosing” when the time comes to elect the region’s first mayor.

If approved by both Houses of Parliament and the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill receives Royal Assent, the new authority will take on powers covering:

• Transport and infrastructure

• Skills and employment support

• Housing and planning

• Economic development

• Environment and climate change

• Health, wellbeing, and public safety