New council deal for five villages

The agreement between Arun and West Sussex councils means that the current three joint area committees, which bring communities together, are to continue.

But they will become county local committees to fit in with the pattern around the rest of West Sussex.

The announcement of the new arrangement follows the county council's proposal late last year to withdraw from the joint area committees for downland, western and eastern Arun after eight years.

It wanted to replace them with just two county local committees for west and east of the River Arun.

But it has changed its ideas after talks with other councils. County council leader Cllr Henry Smith said: "We listened very closely to what was said by Arun and by the towns and parishes.

"We are happy to be working with Arun to reinvigorate the existing three joint committees."

Arun's leader Cllr Gill Brown said: "Based on our consultation with the town and parish councils, there was universal support to continue with the current model of local governance. We applaud the county council for listening and changing its mind."

As part of the agreed approach, the county local committees will gain more responsibilities for joint working.

Arun will allow the committees to decide where to spend grant money and to recommend how developer contributions as part of planning permissions should be spent on services.

Highway issues and the appointment of school governors have already been given to the committees by the county council.