Surrey Heath Borough Council has formally backed a proposal for three unitary authorities.
This milestone follows an announcement made in January by Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, as part of a wider effort to improve local governance, streamline services, and enhance decision-making for residents.
The decision was made at a meeting of Surrey Heath borough councillors held on Tuesday, 18 March 2025.
Cllr Shaun Macdonald, Leader of Surrey Heath Borough Council, said: "The three-unitary model strikes the right balance between local decision-making and efficiency. It will bring decision-making closer to communities and provide better value for money."
During the meeting, 26 out of the 34 councillors present voted in support of the proposal.
He added: "A great deal of hard work has gone into this process. If Whitehall moves forward with devolution, the three-unitary model will ensure the best possible services for our residents, delivering improved services, stronger accountability, and a more sustainable future.
“We believe this approach successfully combines efficiency with strong local representation and our residents will get efficient and effective councils.”
The aim of unitary local government is to offer residents a more streamlined and seamless experience when accessing council services compared with the current two-tier arrangements.
The next stage is for initial proposals to be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government for consideration on Friday, 21 March 2025, with further engagement planned to ensure residents and stakeholders remain informed and involved in the process.
Surrey councils are then due to submit a final proposal on 9 May, with an expectation of hearing back from Government in the autumn.
The interim proposal consists of two sections: Part A and Part B.
Part A outlines how Surrey County Council and the district and borough councils are collaborating to advance local government reorganisation in response to the government’s directive.
View Part A of the interim proposal
Part B presents separate reorganisation proposals—one developed by the district and borough councils and another by Surrey County Council—both of which explore the benefits and challenges of various structural options.