This week, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council responded to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government consultation on local government reorganisation (LGR) in Surrey, in support of the proposal for three unitary councils - East, North, and West Surrey.

The council’s response highlights evidence within the proposal, which was supported by nine district and borough councils including Epsom & Ewell, which demonstrated how this structure would reflect how people live, work, and access services across the county.

The proposal also outlines how three unitary councils formed around existing local economies would set the stage for future growth in the county, providing a strong foundation for governance that keeps decision-making closer to residents.

Councillor Hannah Dalton, Leader of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, said:
“Since the LGR consultation began, we’ve been informing residents and stakeholders in Epsom & Ewell that we support the proposal for there to be three unitary councils in Surrey and encouraging them to have their say.

“I’ve spoken to residents at a number of community events about how local government is changing. I’ve heard that people care deeply about their communities and local areas. They want to know their voice will continue to be heard after the changes to local government take place in 2027. This echoes what we found earlier in the year when, as part of the work to develop our proposal, we asked residents to tell us what is most important to them about local government reorganisation.”

This spring, district and borough councils carried out resident engagement to ask people across Surrey how many unitary councils they would prefer, and what their top priorities were in making that decision. A majority - 63% of respondents - said they support the creation of three new unitary authorities. Residents cited understanding of local issues and local decision-making as their top priorities when considering how many new councils Surrey should have.

Councillor Hannah Dalton continued:
“We eagerly await the government’s decision on our proposal for LGR, which we expect to receive in October. We believe that the three unitary model can offer residents the most coherent and future ready solution to the challenges and opportunities that local government reorganisation in Surrey presents.

“Whatever the outcome, I know that we will work with our partners to build a future local government structure that is resilient, delivers quality services and creates opportunity for residents across the county, both now and for generations to come.”