East Surrey Council

East Surrey Council
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 2027
Preceded bySurrey County Council
Leadership
Nick Dodds,
Liberal Democrats
since 20 May 2026[1]
Steve Wotton,
Liberal Democrats
since 20 May 2026
Structure
East Surrey Council composition
Political groups
Administration (40)
  Liberal Democrats (40)
Other parties (32)
  Conservative (10)
  Green (8)
  Residents (7)
  Reform UK (5)
  Independent (2)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First past the post
First election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
Reigate[2]
Website
East Surrey Shadow Authority

East Surrey Council is a planned English unitary authority for the local government district of East Surrey.

Background

As part of the Starmer ministry local government reform, a goal of "simpler local government structures" was set out by the government, including a commitment to phase out two-tier local government structures.[3][4] On 28 October 2025, the government announced its decision for two new authorities to replace Surrey County Council and eleven borough and district councils.[5] East Surrey Council replaces Surrey County Council in the east of the county and Elmbridge Borough Council, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and Tandridge District Council.[6]

Governance

The 2026 East Surrey Council election took place on 7 May 2026. The authority will take over local government responsibilities on 1 April 2027, and will operate as a shadow authority before then.[7][8]

Control

The inaugural election saw the Liberal Democrats win a majority of the seats on the new authority.[9]

Party in controlYears
Liberal DemocratsMay 2026-present

Leadership

Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. Steve Wotton of the Liberal Democrats was formally appointed as leader of the shadow authority at its inaugural meeting in Reigate on 20 May 2026.[10]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Steve Wotton[11]Liberal DemocratsMay 2026

See also

References

  1. ↑ "First meeting of East Surrey Shadow Authority marks milestone for new council". Surrey County Council. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  2. ↑ https://www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk/homepage/28/shadow-authorities
  3. ↑ "Local government reorganisation: Policy and programme updates". GOV.UK. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Summary of the local government reorganisation process". GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Surrey unitary council 'could be bankrupt from day one', say MPs". BBC News. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Surrey to be split in two in council reorganisation". BBC News. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "Government confirms new East and West councils for Surrey". Surrey County Council News. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  8. ↑ Ballinger, Chris; Bickle, Joseph; Caulfield, Chris; Shipp, Victoria; Williamson, Lucy (8 May 2026). "Surrey local elections 2026 results in full as party gets overall control". Surrey Live.
  9. ↑ Starr, Claire; Akin, Sofia; Gupta, Tanya (8 May 2026). "Liberal Democrats take control of new councils". BBC News. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  10. ↑ McCarthy, James (17 May 2026). "Leaders chosen for newly created East Surrey Council". BBC News. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Shadow authority minutes, 20 May 2026" (PDF). East Surrey Shadow Authority. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
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