Devolution & Local Government Reorganisation

On 16 December 2024, central Government published its English Devolution White Paper (Gov.UK).

The White Paper outlined plans to create unitary councils in areas – like Surrey – that currently have a ‘two tier’ system of district/borough councils and a county council.

It also proposed more Mayoral Strategic Authorities in areas such as Surrey that don’t currently have one. These groupings of unitary councils, once set up, will have powers transferred to them from Government for things like strategic planning, transport, infrastructure, and economic development and skills.

Currently in Surrey responsibilities for delivering services are split across a range of councils. These are sometimes referred to as tiers of local government. Local councillors are elected to these different council tiers.

Surrey has a two-tier council system, with different services being delivered by the borough and district councils (such as Mole Valley District Council) and Surrey County Council.

The Government wants to see a new ‘single-tier’ system in Surrey with a far smaller number of unitary councils each delivering all the local council services.

When the new unitary council comes in, local district and borough councils such as Mole Valley District Council will be abolished following a short transition period when the two councils will operate at the same time.

The Government has indicated that it expects unitary councils to have a population of around 500,000 or more. This means that it is most likely that we will see two or three unitary authorities across Surrey, each covering a much larger area than current borough and district councils do.

We don’t yet know the final boundaries of these new unitary authorities.

In the future, a new Strategic Authority will be set up as well, covering several unitary areas and with a directly elected Mayor.

On 5 February 2025, the Government confirmed that Surrey will be on an accelerated local government reorganisation programme.

Collectively, the 11 Surrey district and borough councils, and Surrey County Council, have been asked to submit interim plans for reorganisation to Government by 21 March 2025, and final plans by 9 May 2025. These plans will need to include proposals for boundaries, how services will be provided in the future, and what will happen to the debt some districts and boroughs currently hold.

The Government will then review these plans, undertake public consultation and decide what changes will take place and when.

Surrey’s county and district and borough council leaders have agreed not to propose a single unitary council for the entire county. Instead, they are considering two or three unitary councils across the area.