Surrey District and Borough Councils launch Local Government Reorganisation engagement

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An initial proposal for Local Government Reorganisation, which would see the county divided into two or three unitary councils, was published by district and borough councils last week, and they are now asking for the initial views of residents and local businesses.

Given that the current system of local government has been in place for the last 50 years, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change things for the better. Eight district and borough councils are therefore offering local people the opportunity to give their feedback on plans for the future governance of the county, to influence the next phase of the process.

Most district and borough leaders in Surrey support a move to three unitary authorities. They believe this would strike the best balance between efficiency and maintaining genuine local accountability, as well as maximising opportunities to support economic growth by ensuring that unitary authorities reflect the economic geography of the county. But regardless of any stated preferences, all district and borough leaders are keen that local people should have the opportunity to contribute to the debate. 

The new unitary authorities would assume responsibility for the services currently delivered by Surrey County Council and the 11 district and boroughs. This transition would pave the way for the creation of a new strategic authority covering the county.

Councillor Hannah Dalton, Chair of the Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Residents Association (Majority Group) and co-chair of the Surrey Leaders Group, said:

"This is a pivotal moment for local government in Surrey. There are a number of compelling advantages to unitary councils - and cost savings is only one of them. We also need to ensure we create new organisations that can manage economic growth more effectively, and which recognise the importance of community, identity and local democracy. 

"Local Government Reorganisation provides us with an important opportunity to secure Surrey's future prosperity, safeguard high-quality public services and ensure that decisions continue to be made close to the people they impact.

"The voice of our residents is what really matters. We want to hear what you think about the future of your local councils. Please get involved in the survey and give us your views."

Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council Cllr Joanne Sexton said, "After carefully weighing up the options, we believe that Surrey would be best served by three unitary authorities rather than two. While Surrey County Council supports two, we feel strongly that three would keep the authority closer to the communities and ensure fairer, more accessible services—especially for our most vulnerable residents. Please know that we are committed to standing up for Spelthorne and will do everything we can to secure the best outcome for our residents and businesses."

The survey is open for comments until Sunday 20 April.