Purpose

1.   
This report updates the Executive and full Council
on the Government’s plans for Local Government Reorganisation
in Surrey.
 

2.   
Following the Government’s announcement on 28
October 2025, setting out their decision as to how Surrey’s
current 12 Councils will come together to implement the transition
to unitary local government, this report outlines immediate next
steps.
 

3.   
In particular the report outlines proposals and
recommendations relating to the establishment of a Joint Committee,
between the Councils in the geography of West Surrey Council. Such
committee to be established initially on a voluntary basis,
following an affirmative decision of each council. The proposals
reflect as closely as possible the expected provisions of the SCO.
Similar proposals are being made for a Joint Committee within the
geography of East Surrey Council.
 

4.   
The Joint Standards Committee, at its meeting on 9
December 2025, will be considering a similar report and will be
asked to make recommendations to both councils in respect of the
necessary Constitutional changes required as a consequence of approval of the
recommendations in this report.
 

Content

RESOLVED that:
 
1.   
The Secretary of State’s decision to proceed
with two unitary councils for Surrey, as set out in the letter at
appendix A to this report is NOTED;
 
2.   
Subject to the similar approval by Surrey County
Council, Guildford Borough Council, Runnymede Borough Council,
Spelthorne Borough Council, Surrey Heath Borough Council and Woking
Borough Council, the establishment of a West Surrey Joint
Committee, in accordance with section 101(5) of the Local
Government Act 1972 and pursuant to the requirements of the draft
Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026, to be entered into between
Waverley Borough Council and the other principal authorities
referenced in this paragraph IS APPROVED;
 
3.   
The Leader of Waverley Borough Council as the
Waverley Borough Council representative on the West Surrey Joint
Committee and to recommend their appointment to Council is
NOMINATED;
 
4.   
The nomination and appointment of any substitute
member on the West Surrey Joint Committee to the Leader of the
Council is RECCOMENDED to Council:

 
5.   
The draft terms of reference of the West Surrey
Joint Committee as set out in Appendix B to this report, and to
delegate to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Leader
of the Council, the authority to make minor amendments is
APPROVED;

 
6.   
Whilst the West Surrey Joint Committee is
established by resolution of all current councils in the geography
of the proposed West Surrey Council, on a voluntary basis, upon the
enactment of the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026 the West
Surrey Joint Committee shall become the 
joint committee required to be established under the provisions of
that legislation and that this will be constituted and established
under the provisions of section 101 (5) of the Local Government Act
1972 and pursuant to the requirements of the Surrey (Structural
Changes) Order 2026 is NOTED.
 
7.   
The delegation of all Waverley Borough Council
Executive functions, within the terms of reference of the West
Surrey Joint Committee, to the West Surrey Joint Committee is
APPROVED.
 
RECCOMENDED that the Council resolves
to:
1.   
Take into account the recommendations of the Joint
Standards Committee;
 
2.   
Note the resolution of the Executive to establish a
West Surrey Joint Committee, subject to the decision of other
councils, between the principal authorities of Surrey County
Council, Guildford Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council,
Spelthorne Borough Council, Runnymede Borough Council and Surrey
Heath Borough Council.
 
3.   
Note the Executive’s approval of the draft
terms of reference for the West Surrey Joint Committee as set out
at Appendix B;
 
4.   
Note the Executive’s recommendation of the
Leader as the nominated Waverley Borough Council to represent
Waverley Borough Council on the West Surrey Joint Committee and
resolve to make such appointment;
 
5.   
Delegate authority to the Leader of the Council to
nominate and appoint any substitute member to represent Waverley
Borough Council on the West Surrey Joint Committee;
 
6.   
Delegate all non-Executive functions relating to
Waverley Borough Council, within the remit of the West Surrey Joint
Committee, to the West Surrey Joint Committee;
 
7.   
Delegate to the Monitoring Officer the authority to
make any necessary and consequential amendments, arising from the
resolutions of the Executive and the Council in this matter, to the
Waverley Borough Council constitution.