Closed: Have your say on the future of community governance in Eastbourne
- To note the findings of the Stage 1 consultation.
- In response to the consultation outcome, to agree 'no change' to community governance arrangements in Eastbourne in advance of Local Government Reorganisation and to conclude the Community Governance Review at Stage 1 and not proceed to Stage 2.
- To endorse the establishment of Charter Trustees for Eastbourne as part of Local Government Reorganisation, to ensure the continuation of the civic, historic and ceremonial traditions of the Borough of Eastbourne, in the absence of parish governance at this stage.
More detail is available in the Full Council report: Community Governance Review (CGR) - Stage 1 Consultation Process Report
Background
From Monday 29 September 2025 to Monday 8 December 2025, Eastbourne Borough Council carried out a first stage consultation as part of a Community Governance Review. This consultation has now closed.
A Community Governance Review is a legal process whereby the Council consults residents and other interested parties, on the most suitable ways of representing the people in the area.
During the stage one consultation, we invited local people and organisations to have their say on how they feel their local communities could be represented.
The Council must ensure community governance in the borough reflects the identities and interests of the community and is effective and convenient.
In doing so, the review must take into account:
- The impact of community governance arrangements on community cohesion.
- The size, population and boundaries of a local community or parish.
The aim of the review is to consider and bring about improved community engagement, better local democracy and efficient, more effective and convenient delivery of local services and ensure electors across the whole borough will be treated equitably and fairly.
Options considered
As part of the first stage of consultation, we asked about the following options:
- Creating a Parish Council(s) - A parish council is the first tier of local government and is responsible for managing local services and amenities. A parish council is not a replacement for a borough council or future unitary authority but instead is a separate independent tier of local government, possessing specific powers for which they are democratically accountable.
- No change in advance of Local Government Reorganisation - Await the abolition of Eastbourne Borough Council and creation of a new unitary authority. That new unitary authority might be considered well placed to conduct a community governance review of its own to set up community governance arrangements that fit with this successor authority, as there are unknowns at this current point on its structure.
- Alternative Options - There may be other arrangements for community representation or community engagement in an area, that you consider more appropriate.
Why we are undertaking a Community Governance Review
The review is taking place, following the publication of the government's English Devolution White Paper in December 2024, and proposed Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in East Sussex.
The Secretary of State for Local Government announced on 5 February 2025 that it would include Sussex in its priority programme for devolution and local government reorganisation in England. The area is now moving at pace towards devolution and LGR, to deadlines set by central government, with a full proposal for East Sussex unitary arrangements submitted to the Government by 26 September 2025.
Local Government Reorganisation in East Sussex will mean the abolition of East Sussex County Council and all the Borough and District Councils in the area, and the creation of a unitary or unitary councils in their place. This could be interpreted as a gap in representation between any new unitary authority and local communities.
Eastbourne Borough Council's Cabinet on 12 February 2025 instructed officers to explore undertaking a community governance review, in relation to future governance in Eastbourne and the viability of a parish council.
On Wednesday 17 September 2025 Eastbourne Full Council approved the start of a Community Governance Review process.
You can download the report and minutes, or to watch a recording of Full Council meeting at: Eastbourne Borough Council Full Council on Wednesday, 17th September, 2025
Download the Terms of Reference (PDF, 192 KB)
Download a map of the current Eastbourne electoral wards (PDF, 3 MB)
Consultation
The review will likely include two stages of public consultation:
- Stage 1: consultation where initial submissions on a wide range of options for governance are invited (Monday 29 September to Monday 8 December 2025).
- Stage 2: consultation on draft proposals (spring / summer 2026).
Please note that no decisions will be made until the survey has closed and all feedback has been considered at each stage.
Stage one of the survey will closed at midnight on Monday 8 December 2025.
If you have any questions, would like support completing the survey or to request the survey in a different language or format, please email [email protected]
Drop-in sessions
We held drop-in sessions for anyone wanting to find out more about the Community Governance Review or ask questions. These were a chance to complete the survey with the assistance of a council officer.
Sessions took place on the following dates:
- Wednesday 15 October 2025, at Eastbourne Town Hall from 12noon to 7pm.
- Friday 31 October 2025, at Gather in The Beacon shopping centre, from 11am to 3pm.
- Monday 24 November 2025, at Eastbourne Town Hall from 12noon to 7pm.
- Friday 28 November 2025, at Gather in The Beacon shopping centre, from 10am to 4pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs - Eastbourne Community Governance Review
Electoral Forecast
Electoral Forecast for Eastbourne (PDF, 650 KB)
How will we manage personal information shared through the consultation
We will not publish your personal information.
We will publish a summary of responses received after the consultation closes. This may include some verbatim comments but these will be anonymised, and we will not attribute comments to any one individual.
Comments received from organisations may be attributed to the organisation but not one individual.
For further information on how we collect, use, share, secure and retain your personal information and your legal rights, please see our privacy note at Privacy notice.
