Letter: Wouldn’t a Unitary Authority be More Cost Effective?

Published on: 14 Nov, 2018
Updated on: 15 Nov, 2018

County Cllr David Hodge. Reported to be resigning this month

From Sally Parrott

In response to: County Council Leader to Resign This Month

Can we any longer afford Surrey County Council?

Could some of our local authorities not combine into unitary authorities which would provide all local government services within a district? Waverley and Guildford, for example, would surely be big enough to provide all such services?

There would be an initial expense, but then extra efficiency, and huge savings on pensions and expenses for councillors, on overlapping services, and on County Hall.

Berkshire County Council was abolished and replaced by district councils in 1998. Would Surrey not also benefit from removing one tier of local government?

Responses to Letter: Wouldn’t a Unitary Authority be More Cost Effective?

Jenny Grove Reply

November 15, 2018 at 6:22 pm

For a long time now I have wanted to see the end of Surrey County Council (SCC) and for unitary authorities to be established. It is an extra tier of government that I think we could well do without.

A lot of people don’t know which authority, SCC or GBC (Guildford Borough Council) is responsible for what, and on the other side there seems to be a complete lack of knowledge or empathy about our local areas by SCC.

There are councillors we don’t even know the names of sitting on committees we have never heard of making decisions with no apparent thought of their impact on local people. I fail to see how Surrey County Council can properly look after all its residents – and it doesn’t.

We have local MPs and local councils. Why do we need a county council? Bring on the unitary authorities.
George Potter Reply

November 15, 2018 at 6:56 pm

Anyone who shares this very sensible view might be interested to read the Lib Dem local election manifesto once it is published; you might find something that meets with your approval.

This is not an official statement on behalf of the Liberal Democrat party, by the way, just a personal comment based on some discussions which I’m aware of.
Jules Cranwell Reply

November 15, 2018 at 8:13 pm

Personally, I would do away with GBC. It has become completely politicized, and the leadership adheres to an agenda totally contrary to the wishes of residents.

They are also profligate with our hard-earned money e.g. The Village, £81 million for student accommodation, and so on.
Brian Creese Reply

November 16, 2018 at 9:59 am

Surrey maintains 12 civic centres, 12 CEOs, 12 Deputy CEOs, 12 teams of officers all working for 600 councillors (over 1,000 if you include parishes) all for £1.1 million people.

Surely we should be looking to cut this ludicrous amount of administration before cutting children’s centres?

Brian Creese is a spokesperson for the Guildford Labour Party
Bernard Parke Reply

November 16, 2018 at 11:59 am

Well said.
Jeff Hills Reply

November 16, 2018 at 4:33 pm

I totally agree with Brian Creese, it certainly looks like jobs for the boys, a waste of Council Tax payers’ money. We have no say in the way they spend our money.