Anger Over Local Government Organisation Continues as Transition Plans Prepared

Published on: 12 May, 2026
Updated on: 12 May, 2026

Surrey is to be divided into two unitary authorities. SHBC

By Esme Campbell

Councillors remain dissatisfied with the local government reorganisation as the transition to West Surrey Council begins, and the issue of a multi-billion-pound debt remains unresolved.

A final draft of an Implementation Plan, intended to support a smooth shift to unitary governance, will be presented to the new local authority despite councillors feeling they could not fully support it.

In a West Surrey Joint Committee meeting today, May 11, councillors agreed to “note” the plan but were unable to “endorse” it due to their disapproval of the reorganisation.

“This was not the vision that we had for Surrey, and it was not what the public of Surrey said, either,” Cllr Shaun Macdonald said in the meeting. ”I think we should be mindful of the level of discontent within the population.”

Cllr Paul Follows

Cllr Paul Follows, freshly elected to represent Godalming South, Milford & Witley ward, explained: “I can get as far as noting this can be sent to the shadow authority, but I don’t believe I can endorse it, because it’s probably not what we’d have written if we were drafting this from scratch ourselves.”

Following last week’s elections, which saw the Liberal Democrats win control of West Surrey, the newly elected council will shadow the current authorities until it takes power in April 2027.

The Implementation Plan will be presented to the shadow authority at the end of the month. The document outlines a strategy for merging Surrey’s 12 councils into two, including the aggregation of public services and, crucially, their financial positions.

Cllr Shaun Macdonald

During the meeting, councillors consistently brought up concerns about the unresolved debt that West Surrey will inherit from Woking Borough Council.

“I don’t think any other LGR process has had the potential for a council to go bust on day one,” said Cllr Macdonald, elected on May 7 to represent the Lightwater, West End & Bisley ward as a Lib Dem.

He later added: “When we entered into this process, it was on the basis that the Ministry would address the issue of debt and, yet again, we are proceeding through this process at another stage without a pathway to resolving the debt.”

Concerns about the new council’s financial position were frequently raised by Guildford residents in the run-up to the local elections held last week, according to Cllr Liz Townsend, who said: “People are angry about it.”

Cllr George Potter

The central government has already agreed to a £500 million bailout, and some councillors remain optimistic that it will step in to write off the rest, as Lib Dem Cllr George Potter told The Dragon in light of the election results on Friday (May 9). Cllr Potter was elected to represent the Guildford East ward.

However, West Surrey’s financial position currently looks bleak, and residents may have to endure spending cuts and an increase in Council Tax.