District and borough councils have published proposals for local government reorganisation on their websites, to be debated at Council meetings across the county in the coming days.
Final proposals will be submitted to Government by 9 May 2025.
Eight of the eleven district and borough councils, including Runnymede, are proposing a three unitary council model for Surrey. They believe that this is the best way to preserve local democracy and accountability, and would ensure that new councils align with Surrey’s existing economic and community identities - creating the foundation for more responsive governance and stronger local economies.
A map showing which current councils would come together into new unitary authorities under the proposals.
There is also a proposal for two unitary councils being submitted by Surrey County Council. Those councils that have been undecided so far will make a final decision between the 6 and 8 May.
The new structure for local government will replace the current two-tier system of district, borough and county councils.
Councillor Hannah Dalton, Chair of the Surrey Leaders Group and Chair of the Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Residents’ Association (Majority Group) said: “This is a significant achievement and the culmination of much collaboration and hard work by council leaders and officers across the county.
“There are still issues to be resolved, including how debt will be managed. Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to work at pace towards a vision for the county that delivers for our residents and communities, that enables us to unlock the wider benefits that devolution can ultimately bring.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took part in the recent resident engagement which sought opinion on shaping Surrey’s future, the results of which indicated clear public support for a three unitary model of local government.
“We also appreciate the time given to us by representatives from charities, parish and town councils, residents forums, health services, community groups and others across the county in our stakeholder engagement exercise and roundtable group sessions. It was really important to make sure as many voices as possible were heard in this journey about the risks and opportunities of changes that will impact local services and communities.”
The Government set out proposals for local government reform if the English Devolution White Paper. This outlines their plans to move away from the current two-tier system of district and county councils.
Residents can keep up-to-date with plans for local government reorganisation on the Surrey Local Government Hub
We always look for ways to improve our website. Share your feedback on how we can improve the information or structure of this web page.
To get in touch about a service we provide, use our contact us form
Did you find this page useful?