LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION IN SURREY – WHY IT MATTERS

This isn’t just about bureaucratic boundaries—it’s about the future of:

• Your community
• Your services
• Your voice in local decisions

Godalming Town Council (GTC) calls on government—and on you—to back the future that works.

Together, let’s shape a Surrey that delivers—locally, democratically and sustainably.

GTC encourages every Godalming resident to support a future that protects our identity and delivers for our community.

“Let’s shape a Surrey that works—locally, sustainably and together.”

WHY GODALMING TOWN COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE THREE-UNITARY MODEL FOR SURREY’S FUTURE

Godalming Town Council believes Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Surrey presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a system of governance that is local, resilient, and ready for the future.

After careful review of the available proposals, our own strategic comparison of the options, public sentiment and financial analysis, GTC firmly supports the creation of three new unitary authorities across Surrey.

This model, backed by a wide coalition of Borough and District Councils and rooted in robust public support, is the best route forward to:

• Protect local identity
• Deliver efficient, high-quality services
• Enable neighbourhood-level engagement
• Strengthen Surrey’s strategic voice

GTC’s Response to Govt. Consultation

GTC’s Strategic Comparison Document

Government Consultation (by 5 August 2025)

3-Unitary Proposal

2-Unitary Proposal

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The three-unitary model ensures Surrey grows stronger by staying local. It recognises Godalming’s distinctiveness, empowers our council, and sets the stage for innovation without losing our roots.

We invite you to explore our response to the Government’s consultation and read on to understand why this matters for Godalming, and how residents stand to benefit.

A VISION THAT MATCHES REAL LIFE IN SURREY

This reflects real-world geographies, mirrors how people live, work, and access services. As GTC’s consultation response notes:

“These boundaries avoid artificial splits, preserve community ties, and provide each council with a robust tax base.”

Health networks, commuting patterns, and transport planning zones all follow similar divisions.

WHY THE THREE-UNITARY MODEL IS FAIRER FOR GODALMING RESIDENTS

Under Surrey County Council’s two-unitary proposal, both Woking and Spelthorne — the two most indebted boroughs — are placed in the same western authority. Since Godalming (Waverley) would be in this western block, it risks being tied to the financial liabilities of boroughs whose circumstances it did not create.

In contrast, the three-unitary model splits these debts, preventing any one unitary (especially West Surrey, where Godalming sits) from inheriting the full impact of Surrey’s financial failures. This:

• Minimises the threat to local budgets
• Reduces the risk of service cuts or asset disposals in towns like Godalming
• Offers greater long-term resilience for community investments

MORE EVEN COUNCIL TAX BASE DISTRIBUTION

In Surrey County Council’s two-unitary model:

• The West, which includes Godalming, has a significantly lower council tax base than the East; ie. fewer Band D equivalent properties.  Therefore it has less capacity to raise income to pay for services.
• Yet the West also contains areas of highest social need.

This creates a double disadvantage: greater demand, but fewer resources.

Under the three-unitary model:

• The tax base remains slightly uneven, but the difference is reduced
• Waverley and Godalming are not lumped with the lowest-performing authorities on both taxation and need
• This ensures fairer access to funding and services for local residents

BALANCED ALLOCATION OF STATUTORY NEED

In the two-unitary model the West absorbs the majority of statutory need, this means things like housing, transport and social services.  Where social need is high, funding for other services is limited.

The three-unitary model distributes statutory needs more sensibly.

Godalming gains from being in a unitary that isn’t disproportionately overburdened from day one.

THE RISK TO GODALMING UNDER TWO-UNITARY:

• Higher debt absorption without consultation or control
• Potentially higher Council Tax bills to pay for services
• Increased pressure on community facilities, budgets, and democratic representation

THE GAIN WITH THREE-UNITARY:

• Fairer financial distribution
• Better protection from inherited debt
• More sustainable service delivery
• Equity for residents without penalising responsible governance

In short, the three-unitary model respects the diversity of Surrey’s communities. It ensures that towns like Godalming are not unduly penalised for the mismanagement of others, and it gives local councils the breathing room to serve residents effectively.

STRONG LOCAL SUPPORT

Public consultation conducted by Surrey’s borough and district councils reveals:

• 63% of residents support the three-unitary model
• Only 17% favour the two-unitary structure
• Top concerns: identity, access, representation

“The three-unitary option reflects how people live and work across Surrey—supporting governance that is closer, more efficient, and more accountable.”

REPRESENTATION & DEMOCRATIC ACCESS

Godalming is currently represented by 11 principal authority councillors.

The two-unitary models could reduce that to two:

• 1 councillor per 11,750 residents
• Less visibility, slower responses, heavier workloads
• Disincentive for new candidates

The three-unitary model includes three councillors per division, safeguarding democratic integrity.

EMPOWERING LOCAL COUNCILS

The three-unitary model is more than an administrative fix—it’s a democratic upgrade. As outlined in GTC’s comparison document:

• Preserves historic boundaries and cultural identity
• Encourages neighbourhood forums, participatory budgeting, and digital democracy
• Avoids the risks of “mega-units” where communities become distant from decisions

“Godalming’s civic leadership can thrive in a structure that values first-tier councils as essential partners.”

INFRASTRUCTURE & FUNCTIONAL GEOGRAPHY

Three-unitary aligns with existing frameworks:

• SCC Transport Planning Zones already split into three
• NHS Trusts, Police, and economic corridors follow same patterns
• Avoids having an unmanageable “super-authority” covering both Haslemere and Heathrow

This ensures joined-up infrastructure, roads, schools, housing, and climate action from the start.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE, NOT JUST FIXING THE PAST

This isn’t just a solution for 2025—it’s a foundation for decades.

Getting it right mattes for everyone.

The government’s criteria for LGR includes six tests—from economic growth to democratic accountability. Here’s how each model scores:

TAKE ACTION

Read the Final LGR Proposals

• 3 unitary model
• 2 unitary model

Read GTC’s Response to the Government’s Consultation
Submit your views to the Government’s Consultation (by 5 August 2025)