Decision details

Following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December 2024, all councils in Surrey have been invited onto an accelerated pathway for local government reorganisation (LGR), paving the way to unlock further devolution and create more sustainable, effective local government for the county.

The Cabinet report taken to Cabinet on 7 May 2025 summarised the council’s Final Plan for LGR in Surrey which was later submitted to government on 9 May 2025 following Cabinet approval. The Final Plan (Annex 1 of 7 May Cabinet papers) makes the case for two unitary councils on an East/West geography, underpinned by a robust options appraisal and thorough financial analysis. Two unitary councils will help ensure the future of local government in Surrey is cost effective, simplified and strengthened whilst unlocking further devolution for the county.

Following the Cabinet decision on 7 May 2025, some minor amendments were made to the Final Plan and its appendices. In addition, a cover letter to the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution was drafted, to accompany the Final Plan when sent to government. Together the letter and the Final Plan were submitted to government on 9 May 2025.

It was AGREED that:

1.               Following Cabinet approval on 7 May, final amendments are made to the Final Plan (and associated information) for Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey by the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

2.               That the Leader of Surrey County Council submits the Final Plan to government in line with the 9 May 2025 deadline.

Reasons for Decision:

On 18 March 2025 Surrey County Council submitted an Interim Plan for LGR, which set out the council’s preferred option to reorganise the existing 12 councils into two new unitary authorities. A shortlist of four potential geographical configurations was included.

Following submission of the Interim Plan, extensive work has taken place to develop a robust evidence base and clear vision for strengthened, simpler and more cost-effective local government in Surrey. This Final Plan (Annex 1 of 7 May Cabinet papers), which was submitted to government on 9 May 2025, proposes an East and a West unitary council, working in conjunction with a Surrey Mayoral Strategic Authority.

Reorganising to East and West Surrey will unlock devolution on a Surrey footprint whilst creating two new unitaries that are large enough to deliver effectively the full range of services currently offered by councils. Two councils will also deliver higher ongoing net annual benefits when compared to three unitaries.

Our analysis shows this geography creates councils with equitable starting points across population, land area, flooding risk, educational responsibility, total miles of public highways and number of birth and death registrations. It also shows a strong correlation between the Adult Social Care and Children’s Social Services budgets and key funding sources, better enabling both East and West Surrey to continue to deliver high quality social care.

This is a historic moment for Surrey. Our vision is a future where East and West Surrey unitary authorities deliver quality, cost effective public services to residents. The Mayoral Strategic Authority will work closely with local and regional partners to deliver strategic priorities, and communities will thrive with an engagement model that strengthens preventative activity. Local neighbourhoods will remain at the core of public services, empowered and informed within this new, enhanced structure.

Following Cabinet decision on 7 May, a number of minor amendments were made to the Final Plan and appendices. These amendments were changes to formatting errors and the correction of typos and grammatical errors spotted in a final review, primarily concentrated in appendices 1-5. Two further letters received from partners, Surrey Heartlands ICS and Luminus, were also added to Appendix 7.

In addition, some amendments were made to the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA), to ensure data accuracy in line with the preferred geography in the Final Plan. The EIA, which was developed for the purpose of supporting Cabinet’s decision on 7 May, has not been submitted to government. The EIA amendments are summarised below:

In addition, a cover letter to the Minister of Local Government and English Devolution was drafted to accompany the Final Plan. On 9 May both the Final Plan and the accompanying letter were sent to government by the Leader of Surrey County Council and the Leaders of Elmbridge Borough Council and Mole Valley District Council.

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