Portslade Merges with Hove/Brighton

This series of changes means that Portslade, which was once an independent town governed by its own council, is now an established and recognised part of the City of Brighton & Hove and is represented by councillors within that larger structure.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the mergers and changes in status.

1. Portslade Merges with Hove

• The first significant change in local government for Portslade was its amalgamation with its neighbour, Hove.

• Former Status: Portslade was governed by the Portslade Urban District Council (UDC), which existed from 1894 to 1974.

•  The Change: On April 1, 1974, the Portslade Urban District was abolished and merged with the Borough of Hove as part of a national reorganisation of local government (the Local Government Act 1972).

What this meant for residents:

• Loss of a local council: Portslade UDC, your local governing body, was dissolved.

• New Authority: Portslade became an area within the Hove Borough Council administrative area.

• Representation: Residents now voted for councillors to sit on the Hove Borough Council, with Portslade having its own wards and representatives within the larger council.

• Identity: While the local council structure changed, Portslade retained its distinct community identity, which it continues to hold today.

2. Hove Merges with Brighton

• The second major change saw Hove, including Portslade, merge with Brighton to create a new, larger authority.

• The Change: On April 1, 1997, the Borough of Hove and the Borough of Brighton were formally merged to create a new unitary authority called the Borough of Brighton and Hove.

• A unitary authority means there is a single council responsible for all local services, unlike areas that have both a county council (like East Sussex) and a district council.

• What this meant for residents:

• New Authority: You became residents of the Borough of Brighton and Hove.

• Consolidated Services: Local services (like refuse collection, housing, education, and planning) began to be administered by the new Brighton and Hove Council, rather than separate Brighton and Hove councils.

• Increased Scope: Decisions affecting Portslade were now made within the context of the entire, much larger, municipality encompassing both Brighton and Hove.

3. City Status Granted

• The final stage was the granting of city status to the new combined authority.

• The Change: In 2000, to mark the millennium, the Borough of Brighton and Hove was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II.

• New Name: The official name of the local authority became Brighton & Hove City Council.

• What this meant for residents:

• Symbolic Honour: This was primarily a symbolic honour recognising the area's size, significance, and culture. City status is a prestigious title, not a change in the council's legal powers or services.

• Official Address: Portslade officially became a district within the City of Brighton & Hove.

• Summary of Key Dates

Change	Date	Effect on Portslade	New Governing Body/Status
First Merger	April 1, 1974	Portslade UDC ceased to exist; Portslade became part of Hove.	Hove Borough Council
Second Merger	April 1, 1997	Hove (including Portslade) merged with Brighton.	Borough of Brighton and Hove (Unitary Authority)
Status Change	2000	The Borough of Brighton and Hove was granted city status.	City of Brighton & Hove