Surrey signals its intent for devolution

Surrey County Council’s Leader is to write to government to outline the county’s ambition to fully engage with the recent White Paper on Devolution.  

Following a full council meeting and Cabinet meeting today it has been agreed to request that Surrey is part of a ‘first wave’ of areas looking to take the opportunities presented by the government’s devolution agenda.  

In Surrey, which is currently made up of one County Council and 11 District and Borough Councils, responsible for different services, this would mean a reorganisation of the local government system.  

The government has signalled its intent to create more unitary councils – single councils to deliver all key services – to simplify and streamline local government.  

For greater devolution of powers, the government is also proposing to create more Mayoral Strategic Authorities in areas that don’t currently have one – like Surrey.  

Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council, said: “Having reviewed in detail the government’s White Paper on devolution, we will be writing to the Minister of State to outline Surrey’s ambition to participate.  

“We owe it to Surrey’s residents to get the best devolution deal possible for our county.  

“I have always been an advocate of further devolution from Westminster and Whitehall to local regions and communities.  

“To do that in line with government expectations, councils in Surrey will need to be reshaped and reorganised, which will hopefully deliver a simpler, more efficient and effective local government system.  

“At this stage we have not set out any preferred unitary or Mayoral authority footprint.  

“Any reorganisation will be examined properly over the coming months, in collaboration with partners across the county, to deliver the very best outcome for our residents and businesses.”  

Interested parties including all councils in Surrey will now have the opportunity to develop a business case for reorganisation, to submit a draft to government in March.  

If the government is minded to include Surrey in its priority programme then it will likely choose to postpone the County Council elections scheduled to take place in May this year, in order for the detailed work for reorganisation and devolution to take place, with elections for any new unitary councils likely to take place in 2026, and Mayoral election in 2027.  

Notes:

A copy of the letter sent by SCC Leader Tim Oliver to Jim McMahon, Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, can be accessed below.