The partners in the bid for devolution for Sussex and Surrey have written to Sajid Javid, the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to press their case.
The letter follows a successful leaders meeting in July and is signed by the leaders or chairs of 31 partners in the bid. They argue that, with the right devolution deal, every £1 invested in the 3SC area could return £9 through economic growth, greater productivity and transformed public services. The joint letter also emphasises the benefits to residents and businesses that extra prosperity would bring in the form of more jobs, more homes and better transport and communications networks.
The leaders have also stressed that the area’s current economic power cannot be taken for granted and is already being hampered by creaking infrastructure. This investment gap could be met both by directing some of the local proceeds of growth into a devolved region and with an annual contribution from central government, suggested at £116 million.
The partners in the 3SC bid include all 26 district, borough and county councils in Sussex and Surrey, the South Downs National Park Authority, the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Authority and the region’s three local enterprise partnerships.
The full text of the letter is available here.
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