Big changes ahead for Surrey’s councils

Big changes ahead for Surrey’s councils

Surrey currently has 11 borough and district councils (like Waverley) delivering council services such as planning, housing, waste collection, and local amenities. Surrey County Council is responsible for education, roads, adult social care, children’s services and more.

At the end of 2025, the government announced that Surrey’s county council and 11 district and borough councils will be replaced by two new unitary authorities called East Surrey and West Surrey. In 2028 a strategic mayoral authority is also expected to be created.

Farnham will be in the West Surrey unitary authority along with the rest of Waverley and the existing Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath and Woking boroughs.

The new unitary authorities will be responsible for all the services currently delivered by the boroughs and county council.

Elections for the new unitary authorities will take place in May 2026. The new unitary authorities will run alongside the existing boroughs and county council until 1 April 2027 when they formally take over responsibilities. At this point, Waverley, Surrey and the other boroughs will cease to exist.

What does this mean for Farnham Town Council

Although town and parish councils were not included in the local government review, the reorganisation provides opportunities for Farnham to acquire assets and services which are important to its community. This will reduce the risk of them being sold by the new West Surrey unitary authority and lost to Farnham people.

Further information about the changes can be found on Surrey County Council’s website.

Could you be a councillor?

In May 2026, six councillors will be elected to represent the Farnham area in the new West Surrey unitary authority. These councillors will prepare the budget and determine the best structure for West Surrey, so it is ready to operate from 1 April 2027. This is an incredibly exciting time to be involved in local politics and is an opportunity to play a mighty role in shaping West Surrey for the future. If standing for election appeals to you, here’s what to do next:

1. Decide whether to stand. Chat to friends and family if that helps: would they encourage you to stand?
2. Check that you are eligible to stand and decide whether to stand as an independent candidate or for a political party. The Electoral Commission provides guidance about standing as a candidate including information about eligibility to stand.
3. Contact Electoral Services at Waverley Borough Council for a nomination form and return it by the deadline given.
4. Plan and carry out your campaign.
5. Wait for the result on polling day.

Useful sources of information

www.nalc.gov.uk

www.electoralcommission.org.uk

www.local.gov.uk

Ensuring Farnham has a voice

West Surrey will represent over 670,000 residents.

In preparation for ensuring engagement with local communities is not lost, pilot Neighbourhood Area Committees (including in Farnham) have been tested and are expected to be implemented across the new unitaries. Farnham Town Council has proposed that these need to be more than talking shops and have the ability to meet the needs of local communities directly. For what happens in the pilot see farnhamnac.commonplace.is and give your thoughts. Further updates will appear on farnham.gov.uk