- Aug 8, 2005
- 27,417
From the Sussex Facebook page:
Modern local government areas such as ‘East Sussex’ and ‘West Sussex’ are both artificial inventions, which were manufactured in Whitehall (via the Local Government Act of 1972), can equally, also be scrapped at the will of any incumbent new parliament. Therefore, they may be suitable for the convenience of local administration at one point in time, but ultimately they hold no real substance when it comes to local identity, culture or geography! Unlike the historic County of Sussex - a solely geographical territory, unaffected by government, which has existed for nearly 1,550 years! This year may well see this come to fruition.
2025 is likely to see the greatest change to local government since 1974. The government's new Devolution White Paper, published just before Christmas, could see the end of both East Sussex Council, West Sussex Council and the ‘district’ (or ‘borough’) councils beneath these, plus Brighton & Hove Council .
As reported in Monday’s (30th December) Sussex Express, this White Paper proposes a move to larger authorities. It seeks to consolidate local Councils into single tiers covering larger areas with an elected Mayor. The White Paper lists two size criteria; 1.5 million or 500,000 with no 'islands' to be left behind. The Sussex Express continues to explain that in practical terms this means that a merger of the territories of the current East Sussex Council, West Sussex Council and Brighton & Hove Council into a territory which would be governed by just one Council (excluding ’parish’ councils), and have a population of just over 1.7 million. This combined authority would meet the larger size threshold.
The Sussex Express reports areas wishing to combine have until Friday 10th January 2025 to express their interest and decisions are expected in February. The government is likely to reward areas that seek to move 'at pace.'
From an heraldic point of view, the abolition of the East Sussex County Council would see an end to the council’s red coat of arms and banner of arms. With no ‘armiger’ it becomes obsolete. Likewise, with the less frequently seen arms of West Sussex County Council.
Although the boundaries of this potential new combined authority wouldn’t match perfectly with those of the historic County of Sussex (the inclusion of Gatwick Airport and Eastern Broomhill, and exclusion of Southern Tunbridge Wells and Southern Lamberhurst being notable anomalies), its territory would on the most part be akin with the traditional bounds of Sussex.
This proposal potentially has the possible benefit of giving a greater focus to the much established shared heritage, culture and identity of the County of Sussex.
Let’s see what develops, but it may be time the red banner is condemned to the history books, plus the use of ‘East’ and ‘West’ within postal addresses on a large scale finally a thing of the past!
Modern local government areas such as ‘East Sussex’ and ‘West Sussex’ are both artificial inventions, which were manufactured in Whitehall (via the Local Government Act of 1972), can equally, also be scrapped at the will of any incumbent new parliament. Therefore, they may be suitable for the convenience of local administration at one point in time, but ultimately they hold no real substance when it comes to local identity, culture or geography! Unlike the historic County of Sussex - a solely geographical territory, unaffected by government, which has existed for nearly 1,550 years! This year may well see this come to fruition.
2025 is likely to see the greatest change to local government since 1974. The government's new Devolution White Paper, published just before Christmas, could see the end of both East Sussex Council, West Sussex Council and the ‘district’ (or ‘borough’) councils beneath these, plus Brighton & Hove Council .
As reported in Monday’s (30th December) Sussex Express, this White Paper proposes a move to larger authorities. It seeks to consolidate local Councils into single tiers covering larger areas with an elected Mayor. The White Paper lists two size criteria; 1.5 million or 500,000 with no 'islands' to be left behind. The Sussex Express continues to explain that in practical terms this means that a merger of the territories of the current East Sussex Council, West Sussex Council and Brighton & Hove Council into a territory which would be governed by just one Council (excluding ’parish’ councils), and have a population of just over 1.7 million. This combined authority would meet the larger size threshold.
The Sussex Express reports areas wishing to combine have until Friday 10th January 2025 to express their interest and decisions are expected in February. The government is likely to reward areas that seek to move 'at pace.'
From an heraldic point of view, the abolition of the East Sussex County Council would see an end to the council’s red coat of arms and banner of arms. With no ‘armiger’ it becomes obsolete. Likewise, with the less frequently seen arms of West Sussex County Council.
Although the boundaries of this potential new combined authority wouldn’t match perfectly with those of the historic County of Sussex (the inclusion of Gatwick Airport and Eastern Broomhill, and exclusion of Southern Tunbridge Wells and Southern Lamberhurst being notable anomalies), its territory would on the most part be akin with the traditional bounds of Sussex.
This proposal potentially has the possible benefit of giving a greater focus to the much established shared heritage, culture and identity of the County of Sussex.
Let’s see what develops, but it may be time the red banner is condemned to the history books, plus the use of ‘East’ and ‘West’ within postal addresses on a large scale finally a thing of the past!
