Overview
- Surrey County Council and 11 boroughs and districts will be abolished and replaced by East Surrey and West Surrey, subject to Parliamentary approval.
- West Surrey will comprise Waverley, Guildford, Woking, Surrey Heath, Runnymede and Spelthorne, while East Surrey will include Mole Valley, Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge.
- Ministers described the £500m for Woking as a first tranche toward stabilising debts of more than £2bn, with further support left open and assurances that other councils will not inherit Woking’s liabilities.
- The transition plan sets feedback on a draft structural change order by November 7, Parliamentary scrutiny in early January, shadow council elections in May 2026, and a full handover on April 1, 2027, with an initial five‑year term for councillors.
- A county‑wide strategic authority is planned to retain functions such as transport and skills, potentially with a directly elected mayor, as MPs and residents raise concerns over West Surrey’s financial resilience and local representation.