A significant step towards local government reorganisation has been achieved by West Sussex councils.
The completion of a business case for reorganisation will be presented at upcoming council meetings across the county, districts and boroughs towards the end of September.
This is a key part of the collaborative effort by all councils to meet the government's requirement for a simpler local government structure.
The business case shows that both single and two-unitary models are viable options for the future of local government in West Sussex.
The case can be found in documents prepared for an extraordinary meeting of the County Council on Tuesday, September 23.
Councils will submit a letter to central government on Friday, September 26 proposing their preferred option for local government in West Sussex.
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The Government will then start consultation, with a final decision expected in spring 2026.
Thousands of residents, businesses, community groups and council staff participated in the recent Shaping West Sussex engagement survey.
Their feedback was essential in shaping the proposals.
Councillor Paul Marshall, leader of West Sussex County Council, said: "This is a milestone in the collaborative working that has taken place over the past few months to deliver a submission that is based on strong evidence and research.
"Our next step is for our submission to be put before our respective councils for debate and discussion before being submitted to government on 26 September 2025.
"The intention of all involved was to deliver a submission that presented options that will benefit our residents, businesses and communities in developing a local government system that compliments and strengthens the positives that the creation of a strategic combined authority will bring to Sussex."
