West Sussex County Council
 | This article needs to be updated. (October 2022) |
West Sussex County Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Council logo | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Chair of the Council | Pete Bradbury, Conservative since May 2021 |
Leader of the Council | |
Chief Executive | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 70 councillors |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Elections | |
| First past the post | |
Last election | 6 May 2021 |
Next election | May 2025 |
| Meeting place | |
.jpg) | |
| County Hall, West Street, Chichester, PO19 1RQ | |
| Website | |
| www | |
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) is the authority that governs the non-metropolitan county of West Sussex. The county also contains seven district and borough councils, and 159 town, parish and neighbourhood councils. The county council has 70 elected councillors. The Chief Executive and their team of Executive Directors are responsible for the day-to-day running of the council.
The county elects eight members of parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.[4]
Since 1997, West Sussex County Council has been controlled by the Conservative Party. In 2019, the council's Children Services department was described in a Children's Commissioner's report as "clearly failing across all domains in the strongest terms" leading to the resignation of then council leader Louise Goldsmith.
History
The Local Government Act 1888 created the administrative county of West Sussex, with its own county council, from the three western rapes of the ancient county of Sussex, that is the rapes of Chichester, Arundel and Bramber. Except for the three county boroughs of Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne, the three eastern rapes of Lewes, Pevensey and Hastings came under the control of East Sussex County Council. Until 1898 it existed alongside the Urban and Rural Sanitary Districts when these were abolished in favour of a new network of urban and rural districts.
The Local Government Act 1972 abolished the previous structure of local government in England and Wales. At this time West Sussex became a non-metropolitan county, divided into districts. This act created the two-tier system of government that exists in West Sussex to this day.
Chairmen and chairwomen of West Sussex County Council
Since 2011 most chairs of the council serve a two-year term, previously the term was more usually four years though before 1962 the position could essentially last almost a lifetime. Peter Mursell was the only individual to serve two non-consecutive terms, the second being after his 1969 knighthood. Cliff Robinson (died 2009[5]) was the only chairman elected as a Liberal.
| Chairs of West Sussex County Council in date order[6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Chairperson | ||
| 2021 – _____ | Mr Peter John James Bradbury | ||
| 2019 – 2021 | Mrs Janet Elizabeth Duncton | ||
| 2017 – 2019 | Mr Lionel Harvey Bernard | ||
| 2015 – 2017 | Mrs Patricia Annette Cooper Arculus | ||
| 2013 – 2015 | Mrs Amanda Jane Jupp | ||
| 2011 – 2013 | Mr Michael William George Coleman | ||
| 2001 – 2008 | Mrs Margaret Delia Johnson, DL | ||
| 1997 – 2001 | Mr Ian Richard Wellesley Elliott, DL | ||
| 1993 – 1997 | Mr Clifford Robinson, DL | ||
| 1989 – 1993 | Mr Martyn Howard Long, CBE, DL | ||
| 1985 – 1989 | Mr Peter Geoffrey Shepherd, CBE | ||
| 1981 – 1985 | Mr Christopher Stewart Buckle, DL | ||
| 1977 – 1981 | Mr Charles James Lucas, DL | ||
| 1974 – 1977 | Mr Edward John Frederick Green, DL | ||
| 1969 – 1974 | Sir Peter Mursell, MBE, DL | ||
| 1967 – 1969 | Brigadier L. L. Thwaytes, DL | ||
| 1962 – 1967 | Mr Peter Mursell, MBE, DL | ||
| 1946 – 1962 | Lt Col Sir Herbert Shiner, DSO, MC, DL[7] | ||
| 1917 – 1946 | Charles Henry, 3rd Baron Leconfield, GCVO | ||
| 1907 – 1917 | Charles Henry, 7th Duke of Richmond & Gordon, KG, GCVO, CB | ||
| 1903 – 1907 | Edward, 5th Earl of Winterton, DL | ||
| 1889 – 1903 | Charles Henry, 6th Duke of Richmond & Gordon, KG, LLD | ||
Political control
Paul Marshall (Conservative) has been leader of West Sussex County Council since 2019. He replaced Louise Goldsmith who had been leader since May 2010.[8][9]
| West Sussex County Council since 1973 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Political Control | ||
| 1973 – 1993 | Conservative | ||
| 1993 – 1997 | No Overall Control | ||
| 1997 – present | Conservative | ||
Responsibilities
The council is responsible for public services such as education, transport, strategic planning, emergency services, social services, public safety, the fire service and waste disposal.
District councils
- Adur District Council
- Arun District Council
- Chichester District Council
- Crawley Borough Council
- Horsham District Council
- Mid Sussex District Council
- Worthing Borough Council
Parish councils
See List of civil parishes in West Sussex
The Council
The whole County Council is the ultimate decision-making body and the principal forum for major political debate. Its 71 members meet six times a year. The County Council reserves to itself decisions on key policy plans, questions members of the Cabinet, debates major pieces of work by Select Committees and notices of motion.
It appoints the Leader who decides the composition and areas of competence of the Cabinet, to which responsibility is delegated for carrying out many of the County Council's existing policies. It also appoints the Select Committees which examine and review decisions and actions of the Cabinet and Cabinet Members, as well as some non-Executive committees and a Standards Committee. The current leader is Paul Marshall.
Cabinet
The West Sussex Cabinet has eight members selected from the Conservative majority. The Cabinet proposes the key policy decisions of the Council, which are subject to agreement by the full County Council of 71 members. Each member has a portfolio of work for which they take personal responsibility.
Elections
County council elections took place on 6 May 2021. For detailed results for each electoral division see 2021 West Sussex County Council election
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 48 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 68.5 | ||||
| Liberal Democrats | 10 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 14.3 | ||||
| Labour | 9 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 12.8 | ||||
| Independent | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 1.4 | ||||
| Green | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 1.4 | ||||
| Local Alliance | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 1.4 | ||||
Elections took place on 4 May 2017. Results are below.[10]
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 56 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 80.0 | ||||
| Liberal Democrats | 9 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 12.9 | ||||
| Labour | 5 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 7.1 | ||||
| UKIP | 0 | 0 | 0 | -10 | 0.0 | ||||
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0.0 | ||||
| Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||||
| Other parties | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||||
Since the divisions had been slightly reorganised and there was one less division than previously the gains and losses are not strictly meaningful.
County council elections took place on 2 May 2013. For detailed results for each electoral division see 2013 West Sussex County Council election.
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss | Seats % | Votes % | Votes | +/− | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 46 | 13 | 16 | -3 | 64.8 | ||||
| UKIP | 10 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 14.1 | ||||
| Liberal Democrats | 8 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 11.3 | ||||
| Labour | 6 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 8.5 | ||||
| Independent | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 1.4 | ||||
| Green | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0.0 | ||||
| Socialist Labour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||||
| BNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||||
| Patria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||||
| Justice Party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||||
| Peace | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||||
References
- ^ "West Sussex County Council names new leader as Paul Marshall". 14 October 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "New Leader of West Sussex County Council elected". West Sussex County Council. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Appointment of a new Chief Executive at West Sussex County Council agreed by councillors". West Sussex County Council. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "MPs for West Sussex". West Sussex County Council. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ Death of Robinson's wife Mima in local press report
- ^ Names and dates as listed on the carved boards in County Hall, Chichester
- ^ West Sussex Records Office
- ^ "West Sussex County Council names new leader as Paul Marshall". BBC News. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "Ms Louise Goldsmith". West Sussex County Council. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "Results Summary" (PDF). West Sussex County Council.
External links
- West Sussex County Council – Official website