Future of local government in West Sussex

The government has delayed its decision on the reorganisation of councils in West Sussex.

All eight councils in the county had submitted a business case for either one or two unitary authorities in West Sussex.

This week the government announced it would not make a decision yet on the plans for the whole of Sussex but would look to modify the proposals put forward.

Cllr Paul Marshall, leader of West Sussex County Council, has expressed his disappointment at this latest development from the government.

Helping residents live well and be independent

We have renewed our Adult Social Care Strategy to improve how adults and carers are supported across the county.

The plan - Living Well and Being Independent – has been shaped with people who experience care, carers, and partner organisations, and focuses on providing clear information, early support and help closer to home.

With more people needing care and services facing financial pressures, the strategy aims to make it easier for residents to understand their options and get the right support at the right time.

New SEND plan for children and young people

Along with NHS Sussex we have co-produced a new plan to improve experiences and outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The new West Sussex Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Strategy 2026 to 2030 has been developed with families, young people, schools, health services and the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum to focus on the things families have said matter most to them.

New Community Risk Management Plan launched

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has launched its new Community Risk Management Plan 2026 to 2030, setting out how we will prevent emergencies, protect people and property, and respond effectively across the county for the rest of the decade.

It aims to respond to the risks identified in the county, including house fires, road traffic collisions, wildfires, and flooding, as well as emerging risks the service could face in the future.

Investing in our roads

We’re spending £60.7 million over the coming year to maintain and improve our roads.

More than 70% of the money will help to limit the number of potholes forming in the first place with activity such as re-surfacing, large-scale patching and drainage improvements.

While many roads are in good condition, last month alone more than 7,000 potholes were reported, compared to 2,366 in February 2025.

At the same time our crews repaired more than 3,700 defects, compared with 2,500 in February last year.

'Egg'cellent ways to have fun this Easter!

Find inspiration for your Easter holiday plans at experiencesussex.com and see what captures your imagination.

If you are visiting a farm, be aware that animals can carry germs that may cause illness in people. Sometimes these are serious, especially for young children and pregnant women. Even healthy animals can carry these germs without showing symptoms.

If you need to contact us over the Easter break for any reason, find details here.

Head to our Newsroom to find all the latest news.

• Tuberculosis (TB) cases in England are rising and while the overall risk remains low, we are raising awareness following World TB Day earlier this week. TB usually affects the lungs and, if left untreated, the infection can be serious. It’s both preventable and curable, and early diagnosis is key to recovery. More information on signs, symptoms, tests and treatment (which is free for everyone in the UK), can be found by visiting Tuberculosis (TB) – NHS. 
  
  

• We’ve launched our new Best Start Family Hubs, uniting early years, health, education and community services to make support easier for families to access. Eleven hubs across the county will now offer expanded help for families from pregnancy up to age 19 (or 25 for young people with SEND), including parenting programmes, SEND support, stay‑and‑play sessions, and outreach activities in community spaces. The aim is to provide connected, relationship‑centred support so every child gets the best start in life.

• Protect children’s teeth by visiting our oral health page, which includes hints and tips on caring for teeth and what to do if you need urgent dental help.
  
  

• Two new videos aim to raise awareness of the support available to West Sussex families. The benefits of accessing childcare talks about the difference early education makes to children’s development and Do you want to be an early years education and childcare influencer aims to inspire people to consider a career in early years education. 
  
  

• A major programme to upgrade approximately 64,000 streetlights to energy‑efficient LED technology has begun, marking a significant step forward in modernising the county’s lighting.
  
  

• We’re looking for volunteer Independent Visitors to spend time with children aged 8 to 17 who are looked after by us. Find out more here or attend an online information session on 27 April at 7pm  or 28 April at 12.30pm.
  
  

• A Bognor Regis takeaway and two individuals have been found guilty following a Trading Standards investigation into unsafe food and undeclared genetically modified ingredients. 
  
  
  
• West Sussex has been awarded additional government funding to continue improving buses and bus infrastructure until 2030. We'll use this to carry on helping communities stay connected and making bus travel a more appealing option for everyday journeys.

Register to vote

If you’ve changed address or moved home since you last registered to vote, you’ll need to update your details online.

Visit our election webpage for more info and to find out what’s happening in the run up to our elections on 7 May.

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