Stepping into the role of leading a county council would be difficult under any circumstances, but knowing you will be the last person to hold that position before the authority is abolished adds another layer of difficulty.

This is the reality facing Liberal Democrat Jay Mercer, who began his third month as leader of West Sussex County Council recently.

With local government restructuring set to dissolve the council in under two years, Councillor Mercer, who has served as a councillor for many years, also finds himself steering an authority staffed by numerous newcomers.

Since the early 1970s, the Conservative Party dominated the council, apart from a brief period in the 1990s, but the current makeup includes 23 Liberal Democrat members, 23 from Reform UK, 11 Conservatives, seven Greens, five Labour representatives, and one Local Alliance member, with many experienced politicians either stepping aside or losing at the polls.

Describing his initial period as tremendously hectic and fast-paced, Councillor Mercer stated that the large number of newly elected members presented both possibilities and difficulties.

Fresh perspectives and innovative ideas now sit alongside those new to their roles as they settle in and occasionally raise fundamental questions.

Having less than two years to work through an agenda may seem insufficient, but Councillor Mercer remains convinced that holding the elections in May was the correct decision.

He explained that the alternative would have resulted in councillors who had served for seven years without re-election, which would not reflect the public’s wishes.

He emphasised that all parties in the collaborative arrangement fully understand they have under two years to deliver meaningful improvements for residents while also managing substantial transformation responsibly and thoughtfully.

After the council was left without a majority, cooperation became essential for the Liberal Democrats, leading them to form an alliance with the Greens and Labour, as well as the newly appointed council chairman, Councillor Donna Johnson, who represents Selsey for the Local Alliance.

Some have labelled this arrangement a Rainbow Coalition, though Councillor Mercer prefers to describe it as simply a joint administration. He noted that it functions more as a supply and confidence arrangement, with partner parties receiving cabinet positions and opportunities to contribute views, while agreeing not to vote against the administration.

He expressed the view that most participants harbour genuine goodwill, which centres on trust, and he feels a strong personal obligation to maintain that trust throughout their remaining time in office.

The question of what can realistically be accomplished before April 2028 remains central. Road conditions feature prominently on the agenda. Councillor Mercer disclosed that the cost of addressing the accumulated pothole repairs would reach £400 million, a sum the council does not possess and never will.

The strategy involves consulting parish and town councils to determine which roads should receive priority attention.

He stated they would maximise resources available and ensure additional funding is allocated. The discussion about highway maintenance investment began before the elections, and the identified funds, essentially windfall money from government grants, would be directed toward road upkeep.

Improving public perception of the council represents another objective. He observed that many residents cannot distinguish between services provided by district councils and those run by the county council, which he finds regrettable given that council employees across the county work extremely hard to deliver good value and high-quality services in challenging circumstances.

By this he meant not only contractors working in the early hours during winter weather but also social workers managing situations involving dangerous family environments that pose risks to children and potentially to the workers themselves.

He expressed considerable admiration for council staff and wants the public to understand both the difficulty of their work and the quality of their efforts, which he believes they carry out commendably.

One issue of particular relevance to the new leader concerns education, health and care plans, which outline the support required and available for children with special needs and disabilities.

The council’s delay in completing assessments and finalising these documents remains an ongoing concern, although progress has been made.

At the close of 2025, fewer than one-in-five children received their plans within the required 20-week timeframe, a situation that has resulted in the council paying out thousands of pounds following parental complaints.

Councillor Mercer noted that this involves peeling away many layers of complexity. His background includes expertise in special needs, and he is concentrating on accelerating assessment timelines.

He has secured an agreement with the executive director that improvements would be visible by Christmas, and he intends to work alongside the director to ensure this occurs.

He acknowledged the anxiety experienced by families due to the time involved and the difficulty of securing school placements for their children, describing the situation as genuinely frustrating.

Regardless of what this short-term administration accomplishes, significant changes await in 2028 when county, district and borough councils will be replaced by two new unitary authorities.

West Sussex is among the limited number of areas still awaiting clarity on the structure of these new authorities, and the government’s delay has attracted criticism.

The proposal put forward by district and borough councils suggested that Horsham, Crawley and Mid Sussex should form one authority, with Chichester, Arun, Adur and Worthing forming another.

Councillor Mercer characterised this proposal as legitimate, tested, financially sound and the only sensible option that met the government’s own criteria.

However, the government suggested moving Chichester into the Crawley grouping, a change the councils described as altering the rules after the game had begun, with a final decision not anticipated before October at the earliest.

If the councils’ proposal is rejected, serious concerns exist regarding the financial sustainability of the coastal area. Councillor Mercer warned that Arun, Adur and Worthing would face an annual shortfall of £42.6 million.

He observed that significant lobbying appears to have occurred privately. He acknowledged that political influence on matters that should be determined by logic and the needs of residents and communities cannot be ruled out.

Should the government’s decision be deemed legally reasonable, opportunities to challenge it may be limited. However, judicial reviews are being pursued in other parts of the country.

Councillor Mercer confirmed that no choices regarding that course of action had been made at this stage.