“Masquerading as financial efficiency the Government is squaring up to remove local decision making and cut services,” he said. “Residents will have even less say in local services and planning decisions. This means reduced democratic representation and lowers trust in politicians. In Reigate and Banstead, for example, nearly 159,000 residents will be represented by just 20 councillors. How is that access to democracy?”
In announcing the decision for two unitaries – East Surrey and West Surrey Councils will replace the existing councils in April 2027 – the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern, said Surrey needs to be financially sustainable. This means that the unitary councils should be the right size for benefits of scale and cost savings. She also announced £500 million to bail out Woking with its financial challenges.
But Cllr Chandler said this will mean residents in financially stable councils subsidising less well-run councils. “Reigate and Banstead Council has prided itself on financial prudence but now faces the possibility of other areas in East Surrey reaping the benefit of Reigate and Banstead residents donating council tax that has not been spent on their local services.
“East Surrey can wag its finger at the financial profligacy of the councils in the West but the Government will be quick to reduce central support grants to areas not in financial distress. That’s a double whammy for our residents”.
The next steps for local government in Surrey are the formation of small organising committees that will oversee the transition to two unitaries. Cllr Chandler said: “Elections for the new initially shadow unitary authorities will take place in May 2026, with county and local district/borough elections cancelled yet again. Bigger councils with far fewer councillors means more central control of what goes on locally. We must ensure that despite these changes we build a stronger and genuine grass-roots democracy in Surrey.”
