Surrey to create East and West unitary councils by 2027
If you live in Surrey, your council map is about to change. Ministers have now signed the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026-signed on 9 March and in force from 10 March 2026-so the legal process has begun. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
From 1 April 2027, two unitary councils-East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council-will replace Surrey County Council and all 11 borough and district councils. These two new bodies will each be the single principal authority for their area. (publications.parliament.uk)
You will elect councillors to the new councils on Thursday 7 May 2026, which is the ordinary local election day. That first vote sets up ‘shadow’ councils to plan the handover before they take full control in 2027. (cf-www.electoralcommission.org.uk)
What is a ‘unitary council’? In plain English, it means one council does everything for your area. Instead of a two-tier split between county and borough/district, a single council will run social care and schools, roads and transport, planning and bins, libraries and youth services. You deal with one organisation, and we all have a single point of accountability.
Who sits where? East Surrey will cover Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge. West Surrey will cover Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking. Both will be responsible for all local services in their patch. (publications.parliament.uk)
Let’s put the dates in your diary. By Tuesday 24 March 2026, the county and the affected boroughs form East and West Joint Committees to steer preparations. By Tuesday 31 March 2026, a single Implementation Team-led by Surrey County Council’s Chief Executive-must be in place to do the detailed work. After the 7 May vote, the new ‘shadow’ councils meet for the first time within 14 days (so by Thursday 21 May 2026) and spend the rest of the year getting budgets, staffing and governance ready for day one on 1 April 2027. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
How the 2026 elections will work. It’s an all‑out vote: every seat on East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council is contested on 7 May 2026. Those councillors serve until 2031; after that, elections run every four years. Between May 2026 and March 2027, the councils operate as ‘shadow authorities’ to manage a smooth handover. (publications.parliament.uk)
What changes for you this year? For 2026/27 you keep using the same phone numbers, websites and collection days. Surrey County Council and your current borough or district remain legally responsible for day‑to‑day services until 31 March 2027, while the new councils do the planning in the background. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
What isn’t happening this spring? You won’t be voting separately for the county or your current borough/district in May 2026-the ballot is for your new unitary council, East or West. Existing county, borough and district councillors finish their terms on 1 April 2027, when those councils are dissolved. (publications.parliament.uk)
Where do the ward names come from? The Order mirrors the county electoral divisions agreed in the Surrey (Electoral Changes) Order 2024, so names and boundaries will look familiar on your ballot paper. That continuity is meant to cut confusion at the first all‑out elections. (legislation.gov.uk)
Behind the scenes, two things matter for a smooth start. First, the Joint Committees write an Implementation Plan and the shadow councils adopt a code of conduct and a leader‑and‑cabinet model. Second, each shadow council designates interim ‘statutory officers’-a monitoring officer, a section 151 chief finance officer and a head of paid service-before making permanent appointments later in 2026. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
Why West Surrey has extra homework. Because Woking and Spelthorne have active Best Value interventions, the legislation expects the new arrangements to have regard to commissioners’ reports and each council’s Improvement and Recovery Plans during transition, so the new authority starts on stable ground. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
Not everyone wanted two councils. Parliament’s scrutiny committee notes many consultation responses preferred three unitaries for Surrey; ministers chose two on the grounds of lower costs and stronger long‑term sustainability, and confirmed funding support is available across areas going through reorganisation. That context helps explain the timetable and the focus on ‘shadow’ planning. (publications.parliament.uk)
How to take part as a voter. Polling day is Thursday 7 May 2026, 7am–10pm. Check you’re registered, bring approved photo ID for in‑person voting in England, and look out for your poll card showing whether you’re voting in East Surrey or West Surrey. (cf-www.electoralcommission.org.uk)