Residents invited to question council leaders over West Sussex reorganisation

Residents are being invited to question council leaders about the future of local government in West Sussex after the government paused and began reviewing reorganisation proposals for the county.

Adur & Worthing Councils’ Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee will question chief executive Paul Brewer, Adur District Council leader Jeremy Gardner and Worthing Borough Council leader Caroline Baxter about progress towards a unitary system. Proposals submitted last year included options for either one unitary authority across West Sussex or two authorities, while the government also consulted on an Adur, Worthing and Arun option. No timetable has yet been given for the review or a decision.

The meeting will take place at The Shoreham Centre from 6.30pm on Thursday 1 October 2026 and will also consider an update to the councils’ Fair, Green and Local corporate strategy. Residents can submit questions on either topic to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk by midday on Monday 28 September.