The UNISON West Sussex branch has significant concerns about Local Government Reorganisation, or LGR, which we have reported on before. Real concerns exist about what a damaging distraction this change will be, at a time of chronic and unresolved local government funding cuts.
UNISON West Sussex took this position – that the Union should oppose and campaign against LGR until such time as Local Government has been stabilised by restoring full and fair funding to services – to the Union’s national Local Government Conference in 2025. The West Sussex branch motion was adopted unanimously.
However, if LGR is to proceed, the West Sussex branch favours a one unitary solution for West Sussex, if we are to have such change forced upon us. The branch has responded to the first statutory consultation to put this view across.
As we now know, the Secretary or State Steve Reed has deferred his decision for Sussex and come up with a third footprint which no-one wants and is bound to be a damaging failure.
UNISON West Sussex will take part in the second statutory consultation to oppose the latest proposed footprint from Steve Reed and to assert again that we favour a single unitary solution.
We are now in a period where we are working with other West Sussex UNISON branches and considering how we will be best organised and resourced to support members and engage with the employers if LGR goes ahead.
If you have work colleagues not yet in the union, ask them to join. The disruption to staff from LGR caused by TUPE processes and reorganisation of teams should not be underestimated and all staff will need UNISON in their corner as individuals, as well as collectively, should LGR go ahead.
if you have questions, please contact us at office.unison@westsussex.gov.uk.