The Lewes District Council Policy and Performance Advisory Committee met on 18 September 2025 to discuss updates and reports from their work programme, and to provide policy input and development on various topics. Key items on the agenda included the Climate and Nature Emissions Report, Community Infrastructure Levy recommendations, and a report on Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution. The committee was also scheduled to review the Forward Plan of Decisions and their own Work Programme.

Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report regarding Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and devolution, specifically a proposal to create a new unitary council for East Sussex¹. The proposal, called One East Sussex , would see the merger of Eastbourne Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, Hastings Borough Council, Lewes District Council, Rother District Council, and Wealden District Council into a single unitary authority, with a proposed start date of April 2028. According to the agenda, a shadow authority would be elected in May 2027 to manage the transition.

The report highlights that the government has requested all councils included in the Devolution Priority Programme submit their proposal for a single tier of local government for their area by 26 September 2025.

The proposal for a One East Sussex unitary authority follows a review of alternative options. The agenda states that an assessment of a two-unitary model revealed it would be significantly more costly, due to the costs of separating critical services such as adult social care, children's services and the duplication of management and other back-office costs.

The agenda also notes that Brighton & Hove City Council are expected to submit a separate proposal which will likely include the expansion of the existing unitary council to include additional wards currently forming part of Lewes District Council. The report states that the splitting of the Lewes district would be highly damaging, resulting in significant disruption and high disaggregation costs.

The report also notes that East Sussex has a highly constrained land supply, particularly in industrial floorspace, and already leans heavily towards the healthcare, education, and retail sectors. It argues that losing the areas suggested by Brighton & Hove City Council would reduce the diversity of East Sussex's economic mix, strip the county of its largest industrial cluster, diminish tax revenues, and weaken local supply chains.

The report recommends that the Cabinet approve the East Sussex proposal for submission to the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, with delegation to the Chief Executive, Robert Cottrill, in consultation with Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Leader of the Council and Chair of Cabinet, to make any final minor amendments ahead of submission.

Community Infrastructure Levy Recommendations

The committee was scheduled to discuss Lewes District Council Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) recommendations for spending. The Community Infrastructure Levy is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new developments in their area. The money is intended to be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure needed as a result of development.

Climate and Nature Emissions Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Climate and Nature Emissions Report.

Community Wealth Building Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a Community Wealth Building update. Community wealth building is a people-centred approach to local economic development, which redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits into the hands of local people.

Portfolio Progress and Performance Report

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Portfolio Progress and Performance Report for the first quarter of 2024/25.

Revenue & Capital Financial Monitoring Report

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Revenue & Capital Financial Monitoring Report for the first quarter of 2025/2026.

Forward Plan of Decisions

The committee was scheduled to receive the Forward Plan of the Council. The Forward Plan is a list of all the key decisions that the council expects to take over the next few months.

Policy and Performance Advisory Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive the Policy and Performance Advisory Committee Work Programme. The Work Programme sets out the committee's priorities for the year ahead.