Purpose

That Cabinet considers progress on work to
date on devolution and local government reorganisation (DLGR) and
takes decisions on any recommendations as appropriate.
 

Content

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet notes the Secretary of
State’s decision to proceed with two unitary councils for
Surrey (as set out in a letter copied at Appendix A)

That Cabinet approves and recommends
the establishment of two voluntary joint committees:

 
(a) 
for the two identified areas to form the new councils, being:
 
(i)   
an East Surrey Joint Committee, to be entered into between the
principal authorities of Surrey County Council, Elmbridge Borough
Council, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, Mole Valley District
Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and Tandridge
District Council; and
 
(ii)  
a West Surrey Joint Committee, to be entered into between the
principal authorities of Surrey County Council, Guildford Borough
Council, Runnymede Borough Council, Spelthorne Borough Council,
Surrey Heath Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council and Woking
Borough Council;
 
(b) 
That Cabinet agrees to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in
consultation with the Leader to agree the terms of reference for
the voluntary East and West Surrey Joint Committees, in accordance
with the draft terms of reference as set out in Appendix B to this
report, to include that:
 
(i)   
the Joint Committees are to take such form and be authorised to
undertake such functions as are expected to be required of a joint
committee established under a Surrey (Structural Changes) Order
(“SCO”), as made under the Local Government and Public
Involvement in Health Act 2007, together with such other functions
as may be agreed with the other authorities by the Chief Executive
in consultation with the Leader; and
 
(ii)  
the Joint Committees are to continue in place until such time as
the SCO comes into force, from which point onwards the Joint
Committees shall continue and undertake responsibility for those
functions as may be specified in the SCO, until the day following
that on which the East Surrey Council and the West Surrey Council
hold their first meeting in shadow authority form.

(c)   That Cabinet agrees to refer the agreement
of the County Council's nominations of members to the voluntary
joint committees to the Council meeting on 9 December 2025,
following consideration by the political groups as set out in
paragraph 12 in the body of the report.

3.   
That Cabinet acknowledges the latest developments for devolution
and authorises the Chief Executive to progress with planning and
negotiation for the establishment of a Surrey-wide combined
(strategic) authority.

4.   
That Cabinet notes the progress on the development of Neighbourhood
Area Committees (NACs) and the planned submission of an evaluation
report in January 2026.
 
 
 
Reasons for
Decisions:
 
As Surrey transitions to two new unitary local
authorities, the Council remains committed to maintaining openness
and transparency with residents and wider partners. This includes
regular updates on our D&LGR work, as well as the development
of a strong community engagement model through the Neighbourhood
Area Committee pilot programme.
 
Following the government’s decision,
current Surrey councils will start to prepare for shadow elections
in May 2026 and vesting day for the new unitary councils in April
2027. Ahead of this, legislation will be passed to set up necessary
transitionary arrangements, such as joint committees, enabling
councils across Surrey to work in partnership to deliver a safe and
legal transfer to the new structure.
 
(The decisions on
this item can be called-in by the
Resources and Performance Select Committee)