West Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey county councils are joining forces to launch a campaign calling for more power and freedoms to be devolved to the South East.

A letter signed by all three council leaders has been sent to Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, requesting a meeting to discuss the future of their areas.

In the letter, the leaders say: “Together, we can ensure that the right decisions are made in the right places to guarantee that the current contribution to our nation’s success and finances is not only continued, but also expanded to the full potential it can reach.”

The three councils have listed a number of ‘devolution offers’ they can use to “manage the impact of economic growth” on sectors such as road and rail infrastructure.

They want to gain access to locally raised taxes, want greater influence over road and rail infrastructure decisions and additional powers over apprenticeships and skills to promote employment and support small businesses.

Louise Goldsmith (pictured), Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “Our region plays a critical role in the UK’s economy and we must nurture that.

“I do think devolution is the future for local government. It is as exciting as it is challenging, but it will allow us to deal with those difficult issues so much better if we have greater powers and freedoms.”