The most significant change to local government in Surrey in over 50 years is on the horizon. In the future, the Government wants areas like Surrey to benefit from new Strategic Authorities — led by an elected Mayor.

To do this, Surrey must first reorganise into councils which combine county and district and borough services. These are known as unitary councils. This means by April 2027, the 12 councils in Surrey will be abolished and a much smaller number of new unitary councils put in place.

The Government is consulting on different proposals for how local councils are structured in the future. This will be a significant change for our area and gives you a once-in-a- generation opportunity to have your say. 

The consultation is open to all residents, businesses, voluntary groups, and local organisations. Every response counts. The proposals are:

1. Divide the county into three new unitary councils: East Surrey, West Surrey and North Surrey. 
Under this option, the new East Surrey council would cover the area currently served by Reigate & Banstead, Tandridge, Mole Valley and Epsom & Ewell councils . This proposal is endorsed by 9 of the 11 district and borough councils in Surrey including Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.

2. Divide the county into two unitary councils: East Surrey and West Surrey, each covering a larger area.
Under this option, the new East Surrey council would be larger, covering the area currently served by Elmbridge in addition to Reigate & Banstead, Tandridge, Mole Valley and Epsom & Ewell councils.  This proposal is endorsed by Surrey County Council the remaining two district and borough councils.

Having three unitary councils will:

• enable stronger public services designed around local needs. It will still allow us to achieve ‘economies of scale’ but will also mean that your local services will be better tailored to the needs of your local communities
• better align with our local areas and communities. It will mean councils that make sense to you, as residents, ‘on the ground’, to business and to other local service providers
• mean more opportunities for economic growth and new infrastructure, focusing growth and development to the areas that need it
• mean councillors and councils that are closer to you, more able to understand your local concerns, your needs and to represent you.

It is important to understand that both options will save money compared to now. Two councils may provide slightly larger immediate financial savings but three councils option is a financially sustainable model, with projected savings of over £60m by year four.

We want as many local groups and people as possible to make their views known on this important issue, and therefore encourage you to take part.

You can have your say until Tuesday 5 August by visiting http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/surrey-local-government-reorganisation.

Responses may be made on the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's online platform ‘Citizen Space’ or alternatively by email to lgreorganisation@communities.gov.uk or in writing to LGR Consultation, Fry Building 2NE, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF.

On Wednesday 18 June, councillors agreed to carry out a borough-wide review of the most suitable ways to represent residents at a community level. For Horley or Salfords & Sidlow, which are already served by a town or parish council, people will be asked whether the existing arrangements continue to be appropriate or if they should be updated. For other areas, the review will consider whether local communities would be better served by having a parish or town council.

The Community Governance Review will commence on 24 July and carrying out the review now allows local people to consider parish and town councils in light of the local government reorganisation, which will see the existing two-tier arrangement of district or borough councils and Surrey County Council replaced with new unitary authorities.

In advance of the first consultation phase there will be public meetings held for those interested in submitting proposals:

• Wednesday 16 July, 6pm - Town Hall, Castlefield Road, Reigate, RH2 0SH.
• Monday 21 July, 6pm - Banstead Community Centre, Bolters Lane, The Horseshoe, Banstead, SM7 2BQ.
• Wednesday 23 July, 6pm - Horley Community Centre, Albert Road, Horley, RH6 7JA.