LGR Update Statement - September 2026

Published: 07 Sep 2026

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Joint Response – Government Pauses LGR Programme

Today the Government has announced that it is pausing the LGR programme whilst it reviews if decisions already taken, and those to be made, are the right ones. No timeline has been given to local authorities as to when the review is to be carried out or when it will be concluded.

West Sussex councils have reacted to the latest development with disappointment, that a process that has been ongoing for over 18 months has yet to be decided upon.

In a statement they said: “We are frustrated by the latest news and will be meeting with ministers to understand what is behind this decision and what the timetable is for going forward. Our concern now is to ensure our residents, communities and businesses are kept fully aware and that our staff and members are kept up to date with the latest details in what continues to be an unsettling time for them.

“In the meantime, it is business as usual, we will continue to provide all of our services and deliver our local priorities with the same level of commitment, to our communities. We will jointly urge the Government to finalise the details on the LGR programme so we can finally know when this will be happening and what the decision is for the future of local Government in West Sussex.”