Crawley Borough Council agreed recommendations for the creation of Crawley Town Council at yesterday’s Full Council meeting, marking the next stage of the town's Community Governance Review and setting out how a new town council could be established as part of wider plans for local government reorganisation in West Sussex.

Subject to the government confirming the final arrangements for local government reorganisation in West Sussex, councillors agreed that a new parish covering the whole of Crawley borough should be created and known as Crawley Town Council. The new council would represent all neighbourhoods across the town and provide a dedicated tier of local government focused on community services and local priorities.

Under the recommendations:

• Crawley Town Council would cover the same area as the current borough boundary
• the town would be divided into 14 neighbourhood-based wards, reflecting Crawley's established communities
• a total of 26 Town Councillors would be elected to represent residents across those wards
• the first elections to Crawley Town Council would be held in 2027, either on 6 May 2027 or alongside elections for the new shadow unitary authorities, whichever was later
• the council would be formally established from 1 April 2027, or at a later date if aligned with wider local government reorganisation arrangements

As part of the recommendations, councillors also agreed that the borough's historic Mayoralty should transfer to Crawley Town Council, helping to preserve an important part of Crawley's civic heritage for future generations.

Council officers were asked to undertake a detailed review of the services, assets and facilities that could potentially transfer to the new Town Council. The review would consider feedback received during the public consultation and would be presented to councillors later in the council year.

Areas to be considered include community services, local assets and the future management of allotments. The review would help determine which responsibilities could be delivered by the new Town Council and which should remain with other authorities following local government reorganisation.

Councillors also delegated authority to officers to begin preparing the practical arrangements needed to establish the new authority, including governance structures, staffing requirements and financial planning. This included developing the first budget and precept for Crawley Town Council.

The recommendations were subject to the Secretary of State confirming the final local government reorganisation arrangements for West Sussex and the completion of the statutory process required to establish Crawley Town Council.