MAYOR WATCH – SUSSEX
Bella Sankey
Chair, Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority
Emerging regional authority, major long-term funding and governance still bedding in.
Money 5/5Impact 5/5Power 4/5Gap 5/5
Who currently warrants the greatest proportionate WATCH attention because of the responsibilities attached to their office.
Chair, Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority
Emerging regional authority, major long-term funding and governance still bedding in.
Leader, West Sussex County Council
Leads a large county authority covering high-cost statutory services and capital programmes.
SBSA Lead for Investment & Finance
Current lead for regional budget formation and revenue monitoring.
SBSA Lead for Transport; WSCC Cabinet Member
Regional transport, bus reform, Digital Twin and local-government reorganisation intersect.
Chief Executive, West Sussex County Council
Head of paid service across the county authority.
WSCC Executive Director Finance & Support Services
Chief financial officer role gives central responsibility for financial administration.
WSCC Cabinet Member for Finance & Property
Political lead for finance, property and assets.
WSCC Deputy Leader; Children, Young People & Learning
Senior political responsibility in a major statutory service area and membership of SBSA board.
Leader, Adur District Council
Political leadership of the authority at the centre of several live WATCH public-money cases.
Chief Executive, Adur & Worthing Councils
Heads the shared officer organisation responsible for delivery.
Adur & Worthing Corporate Director Resources (S151)
Statutory finance role intersects major capital, housing and regeneration spending.
Adur Deputy Leader; Economy & Regeneration
Political lead for regeneration and economic development.
Adur & Worthing Corporate Director Housing & Communities
Senior officer role across housing, a central WATCH investigation area.
WSCC Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport
High public impact and substantial operational expenditure.
WSCC Cabinet Member for Economy & Skills
Portfolio includes Growth Deals and business connectivity; historic decisions must be separated from her recent appointment.
Adur Cabinet Member for Housing
Political housing lead during major local housing-delivery scrutiny.
WSCC Executive Director Law, Assurance & Insight / Monitoring Officer
Central governance, legal and standards role.
Adur & Worthing Chief Governance & Legal Officer / Monitoring Officer
Key constitutional and legal-governance safeguard.
SBSA Lead for Business Growth & Development
Regional business-growth governance and developing Business Board.
MP for East Worthing & Shoreham
High democratic influence and constituency impact, but less direct control of local executive budgets.