South East council shake-up must not hit local services, says UNISON

Commenting on the results of the local elections, UNISON South East regional secretary Jo Galloway said: “Across the South East, the political landscape has shifted.

“New councillors will quickly discover that local government is judged on the services residents rely on every day.

“In Sussex and Hampshire, existing councils are now being replaced with new unitary authorities. That process must not come at the expense of frontline services.

“This transition is like replacing the household plumbing while the family are still living there. Everything still has to work.

“Council leaders should engage fully with staff and unions to make sure these new authorities are built around delivering for residents.”