West Sussex County Council

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) is the authority that governs the non-metropolitan county of West Sussex. The county also contains 7 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.

West Sussex County Council
Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Chair of the Council
Cllr Janet Duncton, Conservative
since May 2019
Leader of the Council
Cllr Paul Marshall[1], Conservative
since 18 October 2019[2]
Chief Executive
Becky Shaw (jointly with East Sussex County Council)
since 6 January 2020[3]
Structure
Seats70 councillors
Political groups
Administration
  Conservative (56)
Other parties
  Liberal Democrat (9)
  Labour (5)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First past the post
Last election
4 May 2017
Next election
2021
Meeting place
County Hall, Chichester
Website
www.westsussex.gov.uk

The county elects 8 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
Further information: History of local government in Sussex

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. With the exception of 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 or 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.

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.[5][6]

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

Parish councils

See List of civil parishes in West Sussex

The Council
West Sussex County Council offices in Horsham

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.

Directorates

West Sussex County Council is divided into five directorates:

Adults & Children

Provides social care services to West Sussex children, young people, their families and communities; and services for older people and adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory disabilities or mental health needs.

Finance & Performance

Provides the following services: Business Change & Information Management, Capital & Asset Management, Finance, Internal Audit, Performance, Procurement & Market Development, Delivery Team.

Communities and Public Protection

Provides the following services: Community Services (Community Safety, Sustainable Development, Library Service, Record Office, Registration Service, Trading Standards), Fire & Rescue Service, Infrastructure (Environment & Heritage, Highways, Planning), Resources & Performance (Business Management, Communications, Major Projects) and Wastes Management.

Customer Services

Provides the following services: Customer Services, Operations Support Services, People Management, Resources & Performance.

Policy & Partnerships

Provides the following services: Communications, Democratic Services, Emergency Management, Legal Services, Policy & Partnerships (Arts Service, County Strategy, Europe Office, Local Area Agreements, Sustainability, Youth Cabinet).

Children's Services department performance

In 2019, a Children's Commissioner's report for the Department for Education described the council's Children's Services department as "clearly failing across all domains in the strongest terms" and said the deficiencies were "systemic and prolonged". It recommended "the government should take immediate steps to remove the services from the council". The report said there had been "inadequate and ineffective leadership of children's services for some years".[7][8]

The commissioner also found there was a "strong and pervasive" "bullying culture in WSCC, starting at the top of the organisation, which is especially destructive". It recommended a review of the council's leadership and culture.[9] Earlier in the year, an Ofsted report had found "widespread and serious weaknesses" in the children services department and rated it "inadequate".[8][10]

The report led to the resignation of Louise Goldsmith in October 2019, who had been the council's leader for nearly ten years.[11] The report may also have influenced the departure of Nathan Elvery, council chief executive - who had also been embroiled in an expenses scandal around the same time. Elvery left his £190,000 p.a. role "by mutual consent" in November 2019.[8][12]

Goldsmith was replaced by council Conservative party group leader, Paul Marshall, although as of 9 October 2020 continues in her county councillor role.[13] Elvery was replaced by Becky Shaw, who took over as joint chief executive for both East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council.

Elections

County council elections took place on 2 May 2013. For detailed results for each electoral division see 2013 West Sussex County Council election.

West Sussex County Council election, 2013
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

    The most recent elections took place on 4 May 2017. Results are below.[14]

    West Sussex County Council election, 2017
    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.

    Criticism of council spending

    In October 2019 it was revealed the council had spent £36,000 on a drone, but not used it for operational purposes once in 18 months. In its response to a written question by Labour councillor Michael Jones, the council disclosed they had spent £20,850 on the drone itself, £12,353 to train 15 staff – one of whom had since retired, and £2,753 on its insurance.[15]

    At the time of its purchase in 2018, Louise Goldsmith, the then council leader announced: “I’m really excited we have bought this ... to expand on the really fantastic work our fire and rescue service does. I know by investing in these ... they will help save lives. There are also some really exciting opportunities for us to use the drone across the council."[16][15]

    Cllr. Jones called the drone's purchase a "publicity stunt" and remarked, “I was genuinely staggered when I was told that it had never been used, particularly as it had been bought with such fanfare. I think it’s certainly an insult to taxpayers." Cllr. Jones said he would rather it be donated to an organisation that can use it, if the council is unable to use it itself. The council said it was reviewing the drone's future.[15]

    References
    1. "West Sussex County Council names new leader as Paul Marshall". 14 October 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
    2. "New Leader of West Sussex County Council elected". West Sussex County Council. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
    3. "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.
    4. "MPs for West Sussex". West Sussex County Council. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
    5. "West Sussex County Council names new leader as Paul Marshall". BBC News. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
    6. "Ms Louise Goldsmith". West Sussex County Council. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
    7. Coughlan, John (October 2019). "Report into Children's Services in West Sussex County Council following inspection" (PDF). Retrieved 21 October 2020.
    8. "Failing West Sussex children's service 'should be removed'". 17 December 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
    9. "Entire county council 'was under threat of being taken over'". West Sussex County Times. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
    10. "West Sussex Council - Ofsted Inspection Report comments".
    11. "BBC News - 4 Oct 2019".
    12. "BBC News - 27 Nov 2019".
    13. "Chichester Observer".
    14. "Results Summary" (PDF). West Sussex County Council.
    15. "The Evening Express - 22 Oct 2019".
    16. "West Sussex Council - Drone investment".
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