Letter: Local Government Reorganisation Should Not Be Rushed

Published on: 28 Jul, 2020
Updated on: 28 Jul, 2020

From Brian Creese

Chair of Guildford Labour Party

In response to: County Borough and District Leaders Meet to Fight SCC ‘Power Grab’

Guildford Labour Party has supported the re-organisation of Surrey County Council into three unitary authorities for the past ten years. We are therefore delighted to see other local parties coming round to our point of view.

It is very hard to see how the Tory proposal solves any of the inherent problems of governance in Surrey; it looks suspiciously like the proposal which would be best for the Tory party, rather than for the people of Surrey.

While the three authority solution is is the proposal Surrey Labour Party have been advocating, it would represent a major change in the democratic structure of our county, so clearly it will require extensive consultation at many levels to ensure the best possible system emerges.

We would envisage consultation with boroughs, parishes, all political parties and, of course, the voters of Surrey. We do not feel it is the sort of change that should be rushed through to suit a political timetable.

Local government reforms do not happen often, so it is our responsibility to make sure we get the best possible system as a result of any change.

Responses to Letter: Local Government Reorganisation Should Not Be Rushed

Pearl Catlin Reply

July 28, 2020 at 3:57 pm

Is anything ever “rushed” where local government is concerned? Love to hear about it if so.
Sue Hackman Reply

July 29, 2020 at 7:45 am

With county council elections already delayed by one year because of coronavirus, I hope the Conservative council will not vote itself even more time in office using the unitary debate as its excuse.

I predict further years without elections if we defer until the arrival of a unitary structure. It took Berkshire three years to process that change.

I also think the council has had a rather poor track record, particularly on education and transport, and we have a right to pass judgement on that at the polls.