Surrey councils seek three-unitary model amid reorganisation plans

Surrey is set for a major local government reorganization, with competing proposals for how to replace its current two-tier council system. Surrey County Council, supported by some boroughs, advocates for two new unitary councils, arguing this would ensure financial security for residents. However, the majority of borough and district councils, including Tandridge, back a three-unitary model, claiming it would better represent local identities, maintain democratic accountability, and reflect the county's economic and community geography. Critics of the two-unitary plan argue it would be financially unsustainable and would ignore natural divisions within Surrey, potentially leaving some districts to shoulder debts incurred by others. The three-unitary proposal divides Surrey into East, West, and North councils, with a directly elected mayor overseeing them, and is seen by supporters as more responsive to local needs and less likely to fragment the region's economic areas. Councils are currently submitting their final proposals to the government, with a decision expected later this year.