You might have seen the government’s decision to create two new councils for Surrey – but what does that actually mean for residents?
In our latest video, we explain what’s changing and how services will be delivered in future. From April 2027, Surrey will move from one county council and 11 district and borough councils, to two new unitary councils: East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council.
This change is about making things simpler and more joined-up. Residents will only need to contact one council to access the services they need, helping to reduce delays and improve the experience of getting support.
Bringing services like housing, planning, children’s and adult social care together will help councils better reflect local needs – whether that’s for people with disabilities, young people leaving care, or families looking for support.
Government says that the new structure will also reduce duplication, have clearer accountability and deliver better value for money. The councils will be better placed to make decisions that meet local priorities and provide more preventative support.
Elections for the new councils will take place in May 2026, with the full transition happening in April 2027. In the meantime, your local councils are still here, and services will continue as normal.
We’ll continue to share updates on our website, social media and through the Surrey Matters newsletter.
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If you have questions you'd like us to answer in future videos, please let us know in the comments.