Government seek to finalise mayoral devolution for Surrey
East and West Surrey Shadow Councils will work with government to understand the proposals and consider devolution plans that support the needs of residents and businesses.
Surrey is one of 10 new devolution areas, where the government is proposing a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA). You can read more in the Autumn budget online.
Both shadow councils support the ambition to bring more powers and decision-making closer to local communities in principle. The next stage will be for them to work with government to understand the detailed proposals for Surrey and consider the benefits, opportunities and practical implications before final decisions are made about the future arrangements.
Cllr Steve Wotton, Leader of East Surrey Council said:
"We welcome the opportunity to discuss further devolution for Surrey and we see the benefits a mayor could bring to our area.
"A Mayor of Surrey could mean more decisions closer to our communities and help secure the strategic leadership and investment they deserve. We’ll engage with government to explore that potential.
"There are examples elsewhere in the UK of mayors helping improve public services and drive economic growth, and we'd like to secure similar opportunities to improve life for the people we represent.
"As our conversations with government continue, we’ll engage with our partners across Surrey, businesses and residents. Our focus will be on what the arrangements would enable us to deliver, the benefits to residents, how they would be funded and how local peoplewould have a say."
Cllr Paul Follows, Leader of West Surrey Council:
"We welcome the Prime Minister's continued commitment to devolving power away from Whitehall and giving local areas a stronger voice in shaping their own future.
"Today's announcement is an important step in what is still the early stage of a conversation. We now need to see the detailed proposals to understand exactly what is being offered to Surrey, including the differences between a Foundation Strategic Authority and a Mayoral Strategic Authority, and the benefits and trade-offs that each option would bring for our residents, businesses and communities.
"West Surrey Council will approach those discussions constructively and pragmatically. Our priority remains ensuring that any new arrangements deliver better outcomes for local people, stronger local accountability, sustainable public finances and the right powers and resources to support our communities.
"We will work closely with Government, our partners across Surrey and local stakeholders to ensure that any future governance arrangements are designed in the best interests of West Surrey residents and businesses. However, it is essential that discussions about future structures do not distract from the key issue of resolving the significant financial and structural challenges that local government in Surrey continues to face."
Surrey's immediate priority remains the launch of the new East Surrey and West Surrey authorities on 1 April 2027, as well as a Combined Fire & Rescue Authority and Single Pensions Authority.
Plans are also progressing alongside this to prepare for establishing a Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA) for Surrey from the same date, should that route be agreed by the shadow authorities. For an area like Surrey, the FSA is the first stage of the government's devolution framework. Establishing it could provide the foundations for the next stage of Surrey's devolution journey; moving towards potential elections for a Mayoral Strategic Authority.
