On 16 December 2024, central government published a White Paper on the topic of devolution the de-centralisation of government power to local or regional authorities.
The White Paper proposed the creation of more Mayoral Strategic Authorities in areas that currently lack them, such as Surrey. The government says this approach aims to empower local communities, giving them greater control over decision-making and service implementation.
The government has also announced plans to create more unitary councils to simplify and streamline local governance. As a result, Surrey is undergoing significant changes in its local government organisation. Central government plans to abolish the existing 12 district, borough, and county councils, replacing them with a smaller number of unitary councils responsible for most local government services. This process is known as local government reorganisation (LGR).
On 5 February 2025, the government announced that Surrey was selected for the first wave of local government reorganisation to unlock devolution. The government says this is part of a broader initiative to decentralise power and improve local governance across England. The announcement highlighted the need for more sustainable and resilient local government structures to better serve communities.
In February 2025, Surrey County Council and the eleven district and borough councils received directives from the government to submit proposals for reorganisation. These directives included detailed letters outlining expectations and timelines, emphasising the importance of collaboration among councils to develop robust and sustainable unitary proposals.
The government identified Surrey as being on a fast track to local government reorganisation to unlock devolution. At that time, the government stressed the 'urgency of creating sustainable unitary local government in Surrey', and postponed the planned county elections in May 2025 to help speed up reorganisation and "deliver the local ambitions for devolution with the benefits it will bring."
Surrey's fast track status reflects the government's recognition of the urgency to reform local governance in the area. The mandate aims to address the challenges faced by councils in two-tier areas and "ensure that Surrey can quickly benefit from streamlined governance."
The reorganisation process is expected to progress quickly, learn more about the timelines and key milestones.
Useful links and documents
- English Devolution White Paper (GOV.UK)
- Invitation from Government for Surrey LGR proposals (GOV.UK)
- Surrey County Council LGR Interim Plan 2025 - Part A (PDF - 1.08MB)
- Surrey District and Boroughs LGR Interim Plan 2025 - Part B (PDF - 10.14MB)
- Surrey County Council LGR Interim Plan 2025 - Part B (PDF - 2.85MB)