Changes to your Councils
Over the past year, our local Councils have had to move quickly to implement the proposals first aired in the Government’s Devolution white paper (published just before Christmas 2024).
The future shape of Local Government in our area is becoming clearer.
- Two new Unitary Councils will replace Surrey County Council and the 11 Borough or District Councils from April 2027. The new East Surrey Council will comprise the areas of Mole Valley, Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge. There will be elections in May 2026 for councillors to create a shadow East Surrey Council to prepare for the handover.
- A decision is awaited from the Government whether to create a new Surrey Strategic Authority to carry out high-level planning; its members would be nominated by the new East Surrey & West Surrey Councils.
- The Government has also yet to decide whether the Strategic Authority will be headed up by an Elected Mayors with greater devolved powers.
These once-in-a-lifetime changes will impact all local residents for decades to come - affecting the delivery of key local services including bin-collection, highways maintenance, adult social care and special education needs – and many more. Find out more – and give us your views – by clicking on the following links:
