Citizens' Guide to Devolution in England: What the Changes Mean for You

Executive Summary

What is this about? The UK government is transferring more power from Westminster to local areas across England. This affects how decisions are made about transport, housing, jobs training, and economic development in your community.

Why should you care? These changes could mean:

• Better local transport with more say over bus services
• More affordable housing built where you need it
• Job training that matches local employment opportunities
• Faster decision-making on issues that affect your daily life

What's happening in Sussex? Our area is currently exploring whether to join this devolution process, which would create a new "Mayoral Combined County Authority" covering Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, and West Sussex. You'll have a chance to vote for a regional mayor in 2026 if this goes ahead.

The bottom line: Devolution could bring real benefits, but success depends on local authorities working together effectively and ensuring all communities have a voice in shaping these changes.

1. What is Devolution and Why Does it Matter?

The Basic Idea

For decades, most important decisions about your area have been made in London by civil servants and ministers who may never have visited your community. Devolution changes this by moving decision-making power closer to home.

Instead of waiting for Westminster to approve a new bus route or housing development, local leaders can make these decisions themselves, using money and powers transferred from central government.

Real-World Examples

Before devolution: A small town in Tees Valley wanted to improve its high street. The application had to go through multiple government departments in London, taking years to approve funding.

After devolution: The same town now submits proposals to the Tees Valley Combined Authority, which knows the local area and can make decisions in months rather than years.

What This Means for Ordinary People

• Transport: Local leaders can decide bus routes, timetables, and fares instead of private companies
• Housing: Communities have more say over where new homes are built and what type
• Skills: Job training programs match what local employers actually need
• Economic development: Investment goes to projects that benefit your specific area

2. How We Got Here: The Journey from 2011 to Today

2011: The Localism Act - First Steps

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat government gave local councils more freedom to act "for the benefit of their area." This included:

• Community Right to Bid: Local groups could buy important buildings like pubs or libraries when they come up for sale
• Neighbourhood Planning: Communities could have more say in planning decisions

What this meant: Your parish council or community group gained new rights, but councils still lacked major powers over transport, housing, and economic development.

2016: Combined Authorities - The Big Leap

The government created "Combined Authorities" - partnerships between councils covering larger areas like city regions. The first wave included:

• Greater Manchester (covering 10 councils)
• West Midlands (covering 7 councils)
• Tees Valley (covering 5 councils)

What this meant: These areas got directly elected mayors and significant new powers, plus long-term funding deals worth hundreds of millions.

2023: Levelling Up Act - Extending the Model

The government recognized that not everywhere fits the city-region model. The new law created "Combined County Authorities" for areas like Sussex that mix urban and rural communities.

What this meant: Counties could now access devolution deals similar to city regions, opening the door for places like Sussex to get involved.

December 2024: The New White Paper - Going Further

The current Labour government published "Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth," promising to extend devolution to all of England through "Strategic Authorities."

What this means: Every area will eventually be covered by some form of devolved governance, with three levels of power depending on local readiness.

3. Learning from Others: How Devolution Works in Practice

Tees Valley: Industrial Renewal Success Story

The Challenge: This area covering Middlesbrough, Darlington, and three other towns faced economic decline after steel and chemical industries closed.

The Devolution Deal (October 2015):

• £450 million investment fund over 30 years
• Powers over transport, skills training, and business support
• Directly elected mayor to lead the Combined Authority

What They've Achieved:

• Employment: The employment rate increased from 68.2% to 73.6% between 2017-2023
• Teesside Freeport: Attracted over £1.1 billion in new investment
• Airport: Took public control of Teesside Airport, saving it from closure
• Skills: Local control of adult education budget means training matches available jobs

What Residents Say: "Before devolution, if we wanted anything done, we had to wait for London to listen. Now our mayor can make decisions quickly, and we see real results in our communities."

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough: Balancing Growth and Housing

The Challenge: Rapid economic growth around Cambridge created housing shortages and transport pressures.

The Devolution Deal (March 2017):

• £600 million investment fund over 30 years
• Powers over strategic planning, transport, and skills
• Focus on housing delivery and sustainable growth

What They've Achieved:

• Housing: Strategic approach to new housing development across the region
• Transport: Coordinated improvements to buses and cycling infrastructure
• Skills: Adult education programs tailored to local needs

The Lesson: Even successful areas benefit from devolution by coordinating growth and ensuring benefits reach all communities.

4. Sussex's Devolution Opportunity: What's on the Table

Where We Are Now

In January 2025, Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, and West Sussex County Council submitted a joint proposal to join the government's devolution program. The government accepted Sussex into the "Devolution Priority Programme" in February 2025.

What Sussex Could Gain

Based on other devolution deals, Sussex could receive:

• Powers:
  • Transport: Control over bus services, including routes, timetables, and potentially fares
  • Skills: Direct control of adult education budgets to match training with local job opportunities
  • Housing: Strategic planning powers to coordinate housing development across the region
  • Economic Development: Investment funds for business support, innovation hubs, and regeneration projects
• Funding:
  • A long-term investment fund (likely £300-500 million over 30 years based on comparable areas)
  • Annual transport funding for improvements to buses and local transport infrastructure
  • Ring-fenced money for skills and adult education programs

The Governance Model

• Directly Elected Mayor: You would vote for a Sussex mayor in May 2026 who would:
  • Chair the Combined County Authority
  • Make strategic decisions about transport, housing, and economic development
  • Be accountable directly to you through regular elections
• Combined County Authority Board:
  • The elected mayor
  • Leaders from Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, and West Sussex councils
  • Representatives from business, education, and community groups

Your Timeline

5. The Real Questions: Benefits, Risks, and Trade-offs

Potential Benefits for Sussex Residents

• Unified approach to bus services across Sussex instead of fragmented private operators
• Coordinated improvements to rail connections between towns
• Better integration between different transport modes
• Strategic approach to where new housing is built
• Better coordination between councils on housing targets
• More influence over affordable housing requirements
• Investment in sectors that actually exist in Sussex (tourism, technology, creative industries)
• Skills training that leads to real job opportunities
• Support for local businesses rather than one-size-fits-all national programs
• Direct relationship between Sussex mayor and government ministers
• Ability to lobby for Sussex's interests on issues like transport infrastructure
• Platform to coordinate response to national challenges

Genuine Risks and Concerns

• Will a Sussex-wide mayor really understand local issues in small towns and villages?
• Risk of urban areas (Brighton) dominating rural concerns
• Another layer of politicians and bureaucracy
• Government funding could be cut in future spending reviews
• Local councils may need to contribute funds they don't have
• Economic benefits may take years to materialize
• Coordinating between existing councils with different priorities
• Risk of disruption during transition period
• Possibility that promised powers don't deliver real change

What Could Go Wrong

• Some combined authorities struggle with internal disagreements between councils
• Mayors can become isolated from communities if they don't maintain strong local connections
• Economic benefits sometimes concentrate in already successful areas

6. Having Your Say: How to Influence the Process

Current Opportunities

• Public Consultation (Summer 2025): The formal consultation will ask for your views on:
  • What priorities should Sussex focus on?
  • How should the new authority engage with communities?
  • What concerns do you have about the proposals?
• Local Council Meetings: Your district, borough, and county councils are discussing these proposals. Attend meetings or contact your councillors with questions and concerns.
• Community Groups: Many local organizations are discussing devolution's implications. Join the conversation through:
  • Residents' associations
  • Business groups
  • Environmental organizations
  • Community forums

Questions to Ask

• How will the mayor stay connected to my local community?
• What scrutiny arrangements will ensure accountability?
• How will rural areas have their voices heard alongside urban centers?
• Where exactly will the funding come from?
• What happens if central government cuts the devolution budget?
• Will local council tax need to increase to fund new responsibilities?
• How will we measure success?
• What safeguards exist if the new authority doesn't deliver promised improvements?
• How long will it take to see real benefits?

Making Your Voice Count

• Be Specific: Instead of general support or opposition, focus on particular issues that matter to you - transport routes, housing locations, job opportunities.
• Ask for Evidence: Request clear information about costs, benefits, and timelines. Vague promises aren't enough.
• Think Long-term: Consider what Sussex needs over the next 10-20 years, not just immediate concerns.
• Connect with Others: Individual voices matter, but organized community input has more impact.

7. Looking Ahead: What Success Looks Like

Realistic Expectations

• Better coordination between councils and other public bodies
• More responsive decision-making on local issues
• Stronger voice for Sussex in national discussions
• Long-term investment in regional priorities

What Devolution Cannot Do

• Solve all local problems or replace adequate funding for basic services
• Override national economic trends or government policy
• Guarantee immediate improvements to all services
• Please everyone all the time

Measuring Success

• More frequent and reliable bus services
• Better connections between towns and cities
• Increased use of public transport
• New jobs created, particularly in growth sectors
• Increased business investment in the region
• Reduced out-migration of young people
• More affordable homes built where they're needed
• Better balance between development and environmental protection
• Reduced housing waiting lists
• Regular opportunities for public input on major decisions
• Clear communication about what the authority is doing
• Strong connections between regional and local priorities

8. Conclusion: The Choice Ahead

The Bottom Line: Devolution offers Sussex a real opportunity to have more control over its future. The evidence from other areas shows that when it works well, communities see genuine benefits in transport, housing, economic development, and local democracy.

But devolution isn't a magic solution. Success depends on:

• Strong leadership that stays connected to local communities
• Effective cooperation between councils with different priorities
• Active citizen engagement throughout the process
• Realistic expectations about what can be achieved

Your Role

The most important decisions are still ahead:

• Whether Sussex should proceed with devolution
• What form any new authority should take
• Who should lead it as the first mayor

Your voice matters in these discussions. The quality of democracy in Sussex over the next generation depends partly on how much attention you pay to these decisions now.

Final Thoughts

Devolution represents the biggest change to local government in England for decades. Done well, it could give Sussex communities more control over transport, housing, economic development, and other issues that affect daily life.

Done poorly, it could create another layer of remote bureaucracy that makes little practical difference to people's lives.

The outcome isn't predetermined. It depends on the choices made by local leaders and, ultimately, by citizens like you who take the time to understand the issues and make your voice heard.

Appendices

A. Key Terms Explained

• Combined County Authority (CCA): A partnership between councils covering a county area, with powers over transport, housing, skills, and economic development.
• Devolution Deal: An agreement between central government and local areas that transfers specific powers and funding in exchange for new governance arrangements.
• Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA): A CCA led by a directly elected mayor who chairs the authority and has specific executive powers.
• Strategic Authority: The government's new term for all forms of devolved governance, including combined authorities, combined county authorities, and the Greater London Authority.

B. Sussex Timeline

• January 2025: Sussex councils submit Expression of Interest
• February 2025: Government accepts Sussex into Devolution Priority Programme
• Summer 2025: Public consultation on detailed proposals
• Autumn 2025: Final proposal submitted to government
• Spring 2026: If approved, mayoral election campaign
• May 2026: Sussex mayoral election
• 2027: Full devolution implementation

C. Further Information

• Government Sources:
  • English Devolution White Paper: gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper
  • Sussex consultation: gov.uk/government/consultations/sussex-and-brighton-devolution
• Local Authority Information:
  • Brighton & Hove: brighton-hove.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/devolution-sussex
  • East Sussex: eastsussex.gov.uk/your-council/about/devolution-sussex
  • West Sussex: westsussex.gov.uk (search "devolution")
• Independent Analysis:
  • Institute for Government
  • House of Commons Library research briefings

This report was prepared using publicly available information current as of May 2025. For the latest updates on Sussex devolution, check your local council websites and the government consultation pages.