Meeting held to consider Local Government Reorganisation proposal

This is in response to the government's plans to abolish councils where two tiers of local government exist and replace them with unitary councils which deliver all local services. This means district and borough councils in Surrey, including Spelthorne, will disappear.

Councils across Surrey worked together to develop and agree the interim proposal which looked at having either two or three unitary authorities in Surrey. The leaders of Surrey's eleven district and borough councils and the Leader of Surrey County Council ruled out a single unitary in February.

The councils must submit an interim proposal for reorganisation to government by 21 March, and a full proposal by 9 May. The government is then expected to decide on Surrey's future in the autumn. The interim proposal is available on our website and has two parts:

• Part A: sets out how Surrey County Council and the district and borough councils are working together to progress local government reorganisation following the directive from the government
• Part B: sets out a reorganisation proposal drawn up by the districts and boroughs and a proposal drawn up by Surrey County Council which discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different options

The Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, Councillor Joanne Sexton, said: "We firmly believe that the three-unitary option offers far more advantages than two. Three unitaries would better address the specific needs of different parts of the county, drive economic growth, and build a sustainable future. This approach ensures residents are properly represented and that their voices are heard.

"Local services, particularly those supporting vulnerable residents, must be delivered fairly and consistently across the county. Accessibility is also a key factor for residents, especially those who don't drive, we need localised services that are easy to reach. Proper accountability and effective service delivery would be significantly more challenging with only two unitary authorities."

Watch the meeting on Youtube at https://youtu.be/w_68afNrR9I

* This was decided at the Council meeting held on 6 February 2025. Find out more Local Government Reorganisation - Spelthorne Borough Council