Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) In Surrey
On Tuesday 28 October 2025, the Government announced a major reorganisation of local government in Surrey. From April 2027, Surrey’s current twelve councils will be replaced by two new unitary councils creating a simpler system for delivering all local government services across the county.
- East Surrey will cover Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead, and Tandridge.
- West Surrey will include Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley, and Woking.
Surrey County Council and all Surrey’s district and brough councils will be dissolved, with the new councils taking over key services such as adult social care, children’s services and highways as well as planning, homelessness, waste collection collecting the council tax.
Elections for the new councils will take place in May 2026.
You can find a statement from MVDC Leader, Councillor Bridget Kendrick here.
Below is a list of questions and answers that you might find helpful in navigating through the upcoming changes.
FAQs and What Happens Next
No changes will take place until April 2027. Mole Valley District Council (MVDC), Surrey County Council (SCC) and other local authorities in Surrey will continue to operate as usual until then. The current structure remains in place and residents can continue using existing services without any changes.
Residents and businesses receive different services from SCC and different from MVDC. You can find a breakdown core services below.
MVDC Services:
- Council Tax and Benefits
- Planning and Building Control
- Housing and Homelessness
- Waste and Recycling Collection
- Environmental Health
- Leisure Centres and Parks
- Licensing and Local Business Support
To apply, report things or pay for services with MVDC, please visit our forms listing page.
Surrey County Council Services:
- Education and Schools
- Highways (e.g. potholes, street lighting)
- Adult Social Care and Children’s Services
- Libraries and Blue Badges
- Births, Deaths, and Ceremonies
To apply, report or pay for services with SCC, please visit the SCC website.
| Milestone | Expected Date |
| Legislation to implement the changes laid before Parliament | January 2026 |
| Legislation finalised | March 2026 |
| Shadow Authority Elections | May 2026 |
| Shadow Authority Operational | Mid 2026 |
| Legilsation comes to force (New Authorities Go Live) | April 2027 |
The Shadow Authority is formed once the government confirms the new unitary structure.
It will:
- Oversee the transition from current councils to the new unitary authorities.
- Prepare budgets, governance frameworks and service delivery plans.
- Ensure continuity of services and staff during the transition. It will not deliver services directly but will shape how the new councils operate from April 2027.
Elections for the new unitary authorities are expected in May 2026. These will determine who leads the new councils and how local services are governed. Your vote will help shape the future of local democracy in Mole Valley and beyond.
All community assets currently owned by MVDC will be transferred to the new unitary authority in April 2027. This includes play areas and green spaces, community centres and halls, sports facilities and local heritage buildings and other council owned properties.
MVDC has a clear policy for managing community assets during LGR. It can be possible to transfer assets such as parks, community halls and open spaces to Parish or Town Councils, or even to community organisations through the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) process. More information about the process can be found here.
Yes. MVDC continues to offer funding for community projects, events and local initiatives. These remain unaffected until the new authorities are in place in May 2027. Any changes to funding routes will be communicated well in advance.
Yes. MVDC’s CSU team will continue to provide advice and support on all MVDC services. Whether you need help with bins, benefits, planning or housing – CSU remains your first point of contact. When East Surrey authority takes over, should there be any changes in contact information, they will be communicated well in advance.
The new authorities will be responsible for setting up the new council tax – it’s too early to say if there will be any changes. MVDC currently manages its shared responsibly, which accounts for around 9% of your total bill and this will continue until April 2027.