Should two become one? Councils consider combining

Crawley Borough Council and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council say there are economic benefits to forming a unitary authority.

Two councils in south-east England will ask the government to allow them to combine.

Crawley Borough Council (CBC) and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (RBBC) have put together a proposal to form a new unitary authority.

The councils say their aim is to get the economic benefits of being part of an economic area close to Gatwick airport.

Government ministers have said they want a major redesign of local government, with the two-tier council system being scrapped and areas having elected mayors.

RBBC approved the plan on Tuesday and CBC's cabinet agreed unanimously to support the plan at a meeting on Wednesday.

But why are the two boroughs considering this idea?

Reigate & Banstead is also supporting a proposal to have three unitary authorities across Surrey.

You could say that officials at Reigate and Banstead are trying to ride two horses at the same time.

On one hand, they are backing the plan – now supported by nine of the borough and district councils – to split Surrey into three unitary authorities.

On the other, they are looking at working with Crawley.

Arguments in favour include growing the economy of the two boroughs, the potential to develop road and rail transport links, such as the M25 and the North Downs line, and having a stronger voice on the future of Gatwick.

A report also says the proposal would help with building new homes in places like Redhill Aerodrome and land near Salfords, although some councillors have raised concerns about losing green spaces.

The government has asked for more details about the plan, including some of the financial aspects, such as dealing with the debts of councils in Surrey, and also the provision of services

Gatwick Airport is a big consideration in future propsals

The big consideration for Crawley is Gatwick Airport, a key asset.

It is already the world's busiest single runway airport and is hoping to expand by bringing its second runway into regularly use.

The economic area around the airport, worth more than £13bn and known as the Gatwick diamond, stretches into Reigate and Banstead and so perhaps, leaders argue, should be run by one unitary authority.

Crawley's leaders stress that they are also working with West Sussex County Council and there is no preference at this stage.

But leader Michael Jones says he is "duty bound" to consider all possibilities.

While economy is important, the identity of the place they call home means a lot to people.

A petition calling on Crawley residents to be allowed to have a say on who the borough aligns itself with has more than 900 signatures.

Earlier on Wednesday, a meeting of Surrey County Council approved a plan to reorganise councils in Surrey into two unitary authorities, with one in the east and another in the west.

Residents' Association and Independents Group, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green Party councillors said they were opposed to two unitary councils in the county.

Epsom & Ewell, Guildford, Reigate & Banstead, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking borough councils and Tandridge District Council are backing a plan for three new authorities.