The East Surrey Joint Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday 15 April 2026 was set to discuss the progress of the Implementation Plan for the transition to new unitary authorities in Surrey. Attendees were also scheduled to consider the proposed constitution for the East Surrey Shadow Authority.

Implementation Plan Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the development of a single Implementation Plan, which aims to facilitate a safe and legal transition from the current two-tier local government structure to the new West Surrey and East Surrey unitary authorities. The report was expected to present further draft content of this plan for members' review. Additionally, updates were anticipated on the latest risk and budget monitoring positions for the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (D&LGR) Programme, along with information on the programme's assurance framework and communications strategy.

The report detailed the progress made on the Implementation Plan, noting that sections covering finance, stakeholder engagement, equality analysis, and information governance were presented for endorsement. It also highlighted developments on the D&LGR Programme's assurance framework and the latest positions on risk management and budget monitoring. The financial implications of the transition were also addressed, with an illustrative financial baseline for the proposed East and West Surrey councils being presented.

Proposed Constitution for East Surrey Shadow Authority

A significant item on the agenda was the proposed constitution for the East Surrey Shadow Authority. This authority is established by the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026 and will operate during a Shadow Period from May 2026 until March 2027, preceding the creation of East Surrey Council. The report outlined that the Shadow Authority is legally required to prepare and maintain a constitution. The proposed draft constitution incorporated mandatory governance arrangements for the Shadow Period, as specified in the 2026 Order. The Joint Committee was asked to consider this draft constitution and, if deemed appropriate, recommend its adoption to the Shadow Authority at its inaugural meeting on 20 May 2026. The report detailed the proposed structure of the constitution, including articles on the Shadow Authority's powers and duties, the role of the Shadow Leader and Executive, overview and scrutiny arrangements, committees, officers, decision-making processes, and codes of conduct. It also noted that the constitution for the Shadow Authority would cease to exist before Vesting Day, with a separate constitution for East Surrey Council to be prepared.