Worthing Borough Council vote to delay 2026 Elections

Worthing Borough Council held an extraordinary meeting of the full council on Tuesday 13th January where all members of the local authority had the chance to have their say on the government’s request to set out their views. After receiving a report from the council’s chief executive on what the impact of elections could be on essential capacity, members then voted in favour of writing to the minister to say that postponing elections could release essential capacity to deliver LGR.

Councillor Sophie Cox, the leader of the council, has today written to the minister to express that view.

In her letter, Cllr Cox highlights that local government reorganisation is complex and with a new footprint expected for new unitary councils in March, it would leave Worthing in the position of heading into a pre-election period that restricted decision making at exactly the wrong time.

As county council and borough council elections are funded jointly, she also highlights that if elections to West Sussex County Council are postponed for 2025 but Worthing’s are not, the borough council will face an extra financial burden when it is already struggling financially.

Adur District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Hastings Borough Council and West Sussex County Council have taken similar positions, meaning that Worthing could have been the only area where elections were taking place in Sussex in May.

Cllr Cox said: “Since receiving your letter on 18 December, this matter has been considered in detail, reflecting both the strength of feeling locally and the scale of the change being undertaken and what would be in the best interests of all residents in Worthing.

“We remain deeply committed to local democracy. However, if elections proceed in May 2026, those elected would likely serve a truncated term of less than two years, with Shadow Authority elections for the new Unitary in May 2027. There is a risk that such a short electoral cycle could create uncertainty for residents during a period of structural change. Aligning the next election with the establishment of the Shadow Authority would provide greater clarity and a full-term mandate for those elected to shape the new arrangements."

The government has said it will listen to the views of council leaders who have said they have capacity concerns about running local elections this year.

Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, will now consider whether orders should be made that would allow the postponement of council elections for one year in certain areas, on a case-by-case basis.

(Pic. Cllr Sophie Cox)