Local government organisation
This is an extract from Spelthorne.gov.uk
13 January 2025: The Leaders of the 11 Surrey District & Borough Councils and Leader of Surrey County Council met last week to discuss the English Devolution White Paper and what this would mean for the residents of Surrey.
There was acknowledgement from all the Leaders that central government is determined to introduce changes to local government through their plans for devolution and local government reform which will see the district and county councils merged into new unitary councils.
All the Leaders of the Surrey District & Borough Councils expressed their concerns around the pace of change being imposed by central government and that such widespread and significant change needs wider consultation with the residents, stakeholders, and businesses across the County. In addition, there was concern that the change, as proposed, will decrease local representation for residents of Surrey.
On the 8 January from Cllr Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council wrote to Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, asking to postpone Surrey County Council elections, to allow time to put together proposals for local government reform. The full letter can be read here: Letter to the Minister from Leader of Surrey County Council (PDF, 98 KB)(opens new window)
In response, the Surrey Districts and Borough Council Leaders, who don’t support the request to postpone County Council election in May have issued a letter to Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution which can be read here: Surrey Leaders’ Group Letter to Right Hon Jim McMahon MP (PDF, 256 KB)(opens new window)
Cllr Joanne Sexton, Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council and Deputy Leader, Cllr Chris Bateson said, “It is important that as the government has now made its intentions clear, we engage in the process to ensure that we deliver the best outcome possible for Spelthorne residents and businesses within this devolution framework.
We do recognise that Local government reorganisation is a stepping stone to improving efficiencies. However, we are concerned about the pace of the proposals and cannot support the plan to remove the right for residents to vote in the upcoming County Council elections in May.
Local democracy is imperative to how we deliver our services and consultation with residents on such a fundamental change is vital. We will continue to represent our Borough, putting our residents at the heart of everything we do.”
Source here