Government steps in as it looks to create single unitary authorities, while offering a reprieve for London’s borough mayors, including in Croydon
County elections due to be held in Surrey on May 1 have been cancelled, as the government prepares for the biggest shake-up in local authorities for 50 years.
Brickhouse: there will be no elections here in May
Surrey is among nine areas where the 2025 elections have been scrapped, ahead of what would effectively be a merger between county and district councils aimed to save £3billion.
Under the plans, district councils such as Croydon’s near neighbours Reigate and Banstead, Epsom and Ewell and Tandridge could all disappear, as Surrey County Council would become the single, unitary authority for the area. Which makes holding this year’s elections a bit pointless.
In the House of Commons, Angela Rayner, the Local Government Secretary, said: “The reorganisation is about recognising the challenges that Surrey faces, working with local leaders to deliver services to local areas and then we can look at later date if we’re able to take devolution forward, but we do recognise the unique situation Surrey faces.”
Devolution plan: Surrey council’s Tory leader Tim Oliver
The Conservative leader of Surrey County Council, Tim Oliver, said a business case for reorganisation would be developed and a draft submitted to the government next month. In 2020, Oliver’s council submitted its own proposals for a county-wide, unitary council, scrapping Surrey’s 11 district councils.
“I have always been a firm believer that further devolution from Westminster to local regions and communities would be in the best interest of Surrey residents and businesses,” Oliver said yesterday.
Opposition Liberal Democrat and Green politicians in Surrey have condemned the plans, with Jonathan Essex, the Green Party leader on Surrey council, saying: “There will be more attacks on local democracy to come, if plans for council re-organisation go ahead here.”
An outline of the reorganisation was announced by the Labour government in November, which included reference in its English Devolution White Paper to not allowing there to be borough mayors when there is a strategic authority, with a mayor, as in London and Croydon.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, they have clarified the position on existing borough mayors.
“It is the government’s ambition to see all of England access devolved power by establishing strategic authorities that can make the key decisions to drive economic growth. The government plans to designate the Greater London Authority as the strategic authority for London.” So far, so obvious.
“The White Paper refers to agreeing devolution arrangements in areas currently without a devolution deal rather than proposing governance changes for London boroughs or other local authorities… This policy will not affect London boroughs governance.”
So it looks like pompous part-time Croydon Mayor Jason Perry, or his successor, will be around for a bit longer after all.
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