New Sussex and Brighton authority to access £30m

The first meeting of the newly formed Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority will outline plans to invest millions of pounds to drive economic growth, boost skills and improve transport.

On Wednesday, leaders of East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council will meet to establish the new authority and agree how it will operate.

It was formally created in March as Sussex and Brighton prepares to elect its first mayor, now due to happen in May 2028.

The authority has been allocated £1.14bn over the next 30 years, with £30m accessible over the next two years before mayoral elections.

Creating the strategic authority is the latest step in Sussex and Brighton's journey on the government's devolution priority programme, which will see an elected mayor with new powers over areas such as transport, skills, housing, economic growth, public safety and public service reform.

Alongside that, existing county, borough and district councils will be replaced with new unitary authorities to run everyday services.

It is expected Wednesday's meeting will see the leader and deputy leader of each of the three current councils appointed as the authority's six board members, with the East Sussex leader made chair and the Brighton & Hove and West Sussex leaders made vice chairs.

A staffing structure, governance arrangements, a constitution and assurance framework will also be agreed.

Members will then begin building the foundations of the authority's early priorities and work programme.

Over the next two years they will have access to £30.4m to invest in programmes aimed at benefitting residents and business in Sussex and Brighton.

Integrated transport funding of £7.2m and £2.8m of bus services funding from the authority fund will be allocated to the three existing top-tier councils until new unitary authorities take over in 2028.

The strategic authority will also manage a budget of £9m over the next four years to fund its set up and operation.

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