West Sussex Conservatives have exploited the uncertainty surrounding the Labour government’s devolution plans in order to further their own political stability.
At yesterday’s West Sussex County Coucil cabinet meeting in Chichester, the Conservative councillors commited to cancelling the May 2025 county elections. This would allow them to remain in their seats for another three years – without a democratic mandate from the people of Worthing to do so.
Whilst Worthing Greens support well-planned devolution that engages with and directly benefits local communities, the current plans to push through changes without much deliberation are concerning.
Major decisions about the future of local government in West Sussex will impact residents for decades to come, and it is the responsibility of the West Sussex County Council to ensure that their citizens have a right to vote for those who impliment these changes. The reorganisation of local government is far too important to rush through without proper consultation and democratic oversight.
Claire Hunt and Ian Davey released this statement yesterday after the West Sussex County Council Cabinet meeting. The statement was also signed by two councillors from the Adur Green Party and the three Worthing Community Independents.
