Future of Worthing and Adur Councils in Question Amid Local Government Shake-Up

Worthing | December 16, 2024
Future of Worthing and Adur Councils in Question Amid Local Government Shake-Up

Plans to merge Worthing Borough and Adur District Councils into a larger authority could be part of a sweeping overhaul of local government in England. The changes aim to streamline services and grant more powers to elected mayors.

Worthing Borough and Adur District Councils, which have shared a management structure since 2008, may be amalgamated under proposals to abolish district councils in areas with two-tier local authorities. The government’s upcoming paper is expected to advocate for the creation of unitary councils, giving more authority to elected mayors over planning, housing, and infrastructure. The Labour government argues this reorganisation will simplify governance and improve efficiency.

The proposals, however, have sparked concerns about the loss of local decision-making. The District Councils’ Network has warned that merging councils into larger entities could lead to “turmoil” and harm local services. Critics, including Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders, have expressed scepticism over the financial and practical benefits of the changes, emphasising the need for proper funding of local councils instead.

Supporters, such as the County Councils Network, view the changes as a necessary step to address financial challenges and unlock central government funding. Labour’s Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is set to present the overhaul as a means to drive growth and raise living standards, with an emphasis on devolution as a cornerstone of governance reform. The plans represent one of the most significant reorganisations of local government since the 1970s.