Worthing’s Conservative councillors have requested an extraordinary meeting of the full council, warning that Worthing Borough Council has yet to formally debate a government request that could result in the elections being scrapped.
The issue stems from a letter sent on December 18, 2025, by the Minister of State for Local Government to councils undergoing reorganisation into unitary authorities.
The minister has asked council leaders to say whether they have the capacity or funds to hold elections in May 2026.
A negative response could lead to the elections being cancelled.
A spokesman for the Conservative group said: “There appears to be a deliberate side stepping of this issue by the Labour council.
“Elections are key to local democracy and any suggestion that the Minister should consider any recommendation from the Leader of the Council, that may lead to the cancellation of elections, should be debated and discussed in an open forum at a full council meeting, where councillors can all contribute and the public can come, listen and ask questions.
“We do hope the Mayor will support our request and call this meeting prior to the 15th January as we believe there remains space in the council diary to do so.”
Conservative councillors say the matter has not appeared on any recent meeting agendas, despite a similar issue prompting a public debate in September 2025.
Councillors met then to discuss the council’s response to the Local Government Reorganisation consultation, allowing members and the public to voice their views.
The Conservative group says a similar approach should be taken now.
Their request for the extraordinary meeting has been acknowledged by the mayor, but it remains unclear whether the meeting will be scheduled and, if so, when it will take place.
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