Single Surrey Unitary Authority Ruled Out – Choice Remains: Two, Three or Even Four

Published on: 12 Feb, 2025
Updated on: 12 Feb, 2025

By Emily Dalton

local democracy reporter

Council leaders across Surrey have ruled out making the county a single mega authority. The agreement was reached during a meeting on February 7, attended by leaders from all eleven district and borough councils.

The decision means that only bids for two unitary authorities or more will be submitted. Submissions are most likely to be put forward by the borough and district councils, who are thought to prefer three unitaries or more, and the county council, who are more likely to prefer two.

The Devolution White Paper indicated that the minimum population for each unitary should be 500,000 and as Surrey’s population is 1,200,000 (but growing) two unitaries have been thought most likely. But after push-back from some local authorities it is felt that the Government might exercise more flexibility on the minimum size, perhaps even accepting 300,000 as the minimum.

The Government confirmed last week that Surrey is among the first areas to take part in devolution to simplify and streamline local government. Elections have also been postponed until at least 2026 as part of the process.

Cllr Catherine Sayer. Photo Darren Pepe.

Cllr Catherine Sayer, leader of Tandridge District Council, said: “I am delighted we have been able to rule out proposing a single unitary, which I believe would have been too large and so lack accountability to residents.”

Under the Devolution proposals two-tier systems of borough and county councils will be discontinued and single unitary authorities, responsible for practically all council services created instead. The government argues this would not only be more cost-effective but also shift power away from Westminster and towards local people.

Tim Oliver – Leader of Surrey County Council

Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey County Council and former proponent of a single Surrey unitary, was unable to attend last week’s meeting. He said: “The government’s White Paper sets out their ambition to create strategic combined authorities under mayoral devolution, and within Surrey’s geography a single unitary wouldn’t meet that criteria.”

A statement from the Surrey Leaders LGR Steering Group said it “remain[s] committed to working together towards submitting one bid for the county”.

Options still on the table include Surrey being made up of two or three smaller council regions, with possibly an elected mayor overseeing the whole county. Last week Spelthorne councillors voted on their preferred make-up of councils depending on whether Surrey would be split into two or three.

But leaders across the political divide have warned shrewd councils should not be flattened by neighbouring council’s crushing debts. The leader of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Richard Biggs, and Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council, Mike Rollings, as well as Cllr Sayer (Tandridge) have raised alarm at being forced to pick up the tab of other councils.

Council leaders are aiming to meet weekly to develop an interim proposal, in line with government criteria, to be submitted by March 21 with a full proposal to follow by May 9.

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