“We have made clear that we do not oppose devolution, but that this must be done with the consent of residents, businesses and partners. The government has ignored this.

“Whilst we object to this decision, we will – as always – put the best interests of residents ahead of everything.

“The services that the districts and borough councils provide are multiple and vary greatly even within East Sussex. We will work together to protect them.

“We will do everything in our power to promote the vital importance of Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, and Wealden, ensuring that the services that matter most to our residents are not downgraded as part of any reorganisation.

“At this time, most future governance arrangements and how we will arrive at them remain unclear. These important details will be confirmed over the coming months, and we will keep our residents up to date and fully informed.”

Uckfield Town Council would like to clarify to residents that it is neutral on the topic of devolution, as it is not set to be affected by any current changes in local government structure.

More information about the government’s proposals can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-authority-funding-reform-objectives-and-principles/local-authority-funding-reform-objectives-and-principles

The latest statement by East Sussex County Council on the matter can be found here: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/your-council/about/devolution-sussex

Wealden District Council’s latest two statements can be found here: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/news/statement-from-the-leaders-of-east-sussex-local-authorities/ and https://www.wealden.gov.uk/news/wealden-council-leader-angry-at-suspension-of-may-elections/