Local Government Re-organisation Confirmed

The Government has this week announced its decision to replace the current 12 councils in Surrey with two new unitary (single) Councils, i.e. combining the responsibilities of the current County and Borough Councils.

• A West Surrey Council will replace the territory currently covered by Guildford, Waverley, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath and Woking councils.  
• An East Surrey Council will replace the territory currently covered by Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge councils. 

The government has also announced a £500 million package specifically for Woking Borough Council to cover half of its £1,000 million debt, without which the new West Surrey Council would be bankrupt on day one of its existence! It has promised to look at further assistance for Woking, so that it’s debt does not burden council tax payers in the new West Surrey area. 

Elections for the new unitary Councils are due to take place on Thursday 7th May 2026.  There was some baseless and false information spread recently by the Liberal Democrat MP for Surrey Heath and Lib Dem Councillors that Surrey County Council had asked the Government to delay our local elections again. That was untrue and those concerned were told that, but the false information continued to be spread, on social media, which says it all  about those giving residents “fake news”.

The new unitary councils will then take office from 1st April 2027.  This is to enable the new Councils to have a year as a “Shadow Council” to get themselves sorted out to take over the following year when SCC and GBC are officially abolished on 31st March 2027.

The Government also intends that there will be a directly-elected mayor (similar to the Mayor of London) on the existing County boundary,  overseeing key strategic services such as fire and police, with an election for that position likely in May 2027.