Ministers are minded to replace Wealden and East Sussex County Council with one East Sussex Council in April 2029, a year later than planned in July.
The plan to abolish Wealden District Council is back on, a year later than first set. On Thursday 29 October the government said it is “minded to” create a new East Sussex Council, which would take over from Wealden, the other districts and East Sussex County Council on 1 April 2029.
Elections to the new council would be held in May 2028. (Jim McMahon, written statement HCWS432, 29 October 2026)
This is not yet a final decision. Residents, councils and other interested parties will get at least three weeks to comment first, and the dates have not been set.
What changes from July
In July the government decided on two new councils for the county, to start in April 2028. It paused that on 7 September while it reviewed the whole programme. We reported the pause at the time.
The July decision has now been formally withdrawn. In its place is a provisional view with the same shape and a new timetable:
| July decision (now withdrawn) | 29 October “minded to” view | |
|---|---|---|
| New councils | East Sussex Council and an expanded Brighton and Hove | The same |
| Falmer parish | Stays in East Sussex | Stays in East Sussex |
| Elections to new councils | May 2027 | May 2028 |
| New councils take over | April 2028 | 1 April 2029 |
| Status | Final decision | Provisional, open to comment |
The Minister for Local Government, Jim McMahon, will make the decision for this area. The Secretary of State has recused herself from it, his letter says. (Minded to decision letter to East Sussex and Brighton and Hove council leaders, 29 October 2026)
Who would be in the new council
The new East Sussex Council would cover:
- Wealden District
- Eastbourne Borough
- Hastings Borough
- Rother District
- Lewes District, minus four wards
Its population would be about 537,000. The four Lewes wards, East Saltdean and Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven North, Peacehaven East and Peacehaven West, would move to an expanded Brighton and Hove of about 308,000. Brighton and Hove had also asked for Falmer, but the minister left the parish of about 300 people out because of “its predominantly rural identity”.
Wealden did not back this plan
The proposal the minister prefers was submitted by East Sussex County Council and four of the five districts: Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes and Rother. His letter notes that “Wealden District Council did not submit or formally support the proposal.”
The letter also records a worry raised in the consultations. A council covering coastal, rural and urban East Sussex “could appear more remote”. The minister says that need not happen if local identities are “valued and built upon”. He points to parish councils and other neighbourhood arrangements. Crowborough already has its own town council.
Wealden had not published a response by Sunday. When the July decision was paused, its leader, Councillor Rachel Millward, said the process “was moving too quickly and had not been fully thought through”. (Wealden District Council, 7 September 2026)
What happens next
- Representations: at least three weeks, with dates to be confirmed “shortly”, the letter says. There is no need to repeat points made in earlier consultations, as those remain before the minister.
- Final decision: after the representation period. The minister says he remains open to a different outcome, including not reorganising at all.
- Parliament: any new council needs a structural changes order approved by Parliament.
- May 2027: elections already scheduled go ahead to the existing councils, the government says.
- May 2028: elections to the new councils.
- 1 April 2029: the new councils take over.
Each area that had a decision in July will get half of the £900,000 transition support per new council now, the government says. That money is guaranteed whatever the final decision. (GOV.UK, Local Government Reorganisation moves forward in five counties)
What it means for you
Nothing changes for now. Wealden still collects your bins, decides planning applications and sends your council tax bill. East Sussex County Council still runs the roads, schools and social care.
- If you want a say, watch for the representation dates. We will publish them, and how to respond, as soon as the government does.
- Councillors elected in May 2027 would serve on the existing councils for about two years before the new council takes over.
- Crowborough Town Council stays. The proposals replace the county and district councils; town and parish councils sit below them, and the minister’s letter treats them as part of how the new council would stay close to residents.
Our planning news roundup explains who decides what in Wealden.
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