Where to find Future Surrey Questions & Answers including about Section 24
The creation of East Surrey Council is part of a wider local government reorganisation across Surrey, designed to simplify services, strengthen local decision-making and deliver long-term value for residents.
Through the Future Surrey Hub you can find the latest information about the local government reorganisation taking place in Surrey.
What is Section 24 and why does it matter?
Section 24 is a statutory direction set by central government to help all Surrey councils make major financial decisions during local government reorganisation. Under Section 24, most councils cannot make big financial decisions on their own and must seek approval from the Shadow Authorities, elected in May 2026. This will help the new councils start in the strongest financial position possible on 1 April 2027.
Shadow Authorities have also agreed to give ‘General Consent’. This allows councils to continue with normal service provision and approved projects from their 2026/27 budgets, so you can access services without interruption.
Section 24 comes into force later this summer. It does not apply to Woking Borough Council and Spelthorne Borough Council as there are already existing commissioning arrangements for best value.
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Your questions answered
To help keep you informed, we regularly update a set of frequently asked questions. You can view the latest questions and answers here: https://www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk/frequently-asked-questions
