Issue details

This report seeks authority to proceed with the devolution proposals for the Three Southern Counties – East and West Sussex and Surrey County Councils and all of the District and Borough Councils that fall within their boundaries.  The report sets out the legal framework for a governance review, the principles that will apply and the considerations that each authority will be asked to examine as governance options are examined.

Cabinet is asked to recommend to Council the following:

(1) That the Council endorses formal submission to the Government as a devolution proposition which this council wishes to be party to;

(2) That the Council delegates to Leader of the Council the authority to negotiate with the other authorities and with the Government a devolution deal based on those proposals;

(3) That the Council endorses a plan to undertake a review of governance arrangements that would be required to enable the authorities to discharge the powers they seeks to be devolved;

(4) That the Council endorses the proposals for the establishment of arrangements for collective decision making as interim arrangements pending the conclusion of the review of governance; and

(5)  That the Council receive a report on the outcome of the governance review in the Autumn with a view to deciding whether to adopt new governance arrangements

(Recommendation to Council)