Devolution: Application to be a priority authority.

Friday 10th January

A significant date in the proposed reorganisation of councils in England prompted by the Devolution White Paper (See Linked Post Below).

Surrey County Council are planning to apply to be one of the priority councils that re-organises in the immediate future.  One impact of this will be to delay the 2025 County Council elections to 2026 where it it is likely two unitary authorities will take over from the 11 existing district authorities in Surrey.

The Draft Letter seeking access to be one of the priority authorities is at the foot of this page.

This reorganisation will be also involve the creation of a overarching Mayoral Strategic Authority, with a mayor being elected also in 2026.

Timetable for Change

• Submission of proposals for Strategic Authorities by 10 January.
• January 2025 - Government’s response and decision on inclusion in priority programme for devolution.
• A formal invitation to submit reorganisation proposals will be issued to authorities in January.
• March 2025 areas will submit indicative reorganisation plans.
• The results of the devolution consultation will be assessed in the Spring 2025 following which a Ministerial decision will be taken as to whether to proceed with a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA - prior to unitary re-organisation). The Spending Review will then confirm future mayoral investment funds for new mayoral areas.
• In the Autumn 2025 priority areas will submit their re-organisation proposals. At this time relevant legislation will be laid before Parliament in relation to the creation of MCCAs.
• At the end of 2025 and in early 2026 Ministers will consider unitary proposals and delivery phasing with statutory consultations being undertaken on the first tranche of proposals.
• In March 2026 notice of mayoral elections will be given for a Mayoral election in May 2026. A decision whether to move to a Mayoral Combined Authority under the reorganised arrangements would follow.

Surrey Issues.

The government have proposed that Mayorial authorities should have a population of about 1.5Million.  Surrey fails to meet this figure having a population at present of about 1.2Million at present.  Surrey County Council are arguing that the Gross Value Added (GVA) of Surrey should be taken into account where it rates as the sixth largest authority in the country outside Greater London.

The leader of Surrey County Council Tim Oliver believes Local Government Change is inevitable, and proposed a unitary authority to the previous government. He wants Surrey to play a central role and it should be part of the process to determine its future.  Cllr Oliver also believes it will help discussion about Surrey councils' debt levels where Woking is Bankrupt, and Spelthorne, Runnymede, and Surrey Council are struggling to service significant debt levels.

What are the Neighbours Doing?

Hampshire has committed to the creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority across the wider region incorporating Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council.

West Sussex is proposing a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton.

Downloads

Annex_2_-_Draft_Lett...

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