Local Government Reorganisation
In December 2024, the Government published a White Paper on the topic of devolution – the decentralisation of Government power to local or regional authorities. The White Paper proposed the creation of more unitary councils to simplify and streamline local Government, as well as create more Mayoral strategic authorities in areas that don’t currently have one.
On 5 February 2025, the Government announced that Surrey will be part of the first wave of the government’s local government reorganisation agenda, and that local elections in Surrey will be postponed from May 2025 to May 2026.
The Government has now formally invited the 11 district and borough councils in Surrey, plus the County Council, to submit proposals for new unitary structures in the area. Specifically, it has requested that an interim plan be submitted on or before 21 March 2025, and final proposals developed by 9 May 2025. The expectation is that the 12 authorities should work collaboratively to meet these deadlines.
Collectively, the 12 local authorities in Surrey have ruled out having a single Surrey-wide unitary authority. This means it is most likely that we will see two or three unitary authorities across Surrey.
For the latest updates, please visit - Updates on Local Government Reorganisation | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
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