Group warns of public confusion over council plan

Caroline Salmon, Wendy Saunders, Paul Street and Pat Smith are members of the Dorking Community group

A group of residents in Dorking say they are worried people are not aware about planned reforms to local government in Surrey.

Ministers are planning to scrap the county, district and borough councils and create new unitary authorities, as well as having a mayor and a new strategic body.

Since May, the government has been considering two proposals to reorganise councils in Surrey into either two or three unitary councils and it is due to announce a decision in the next few weeks.

The residents' group, Dorking Community, has opened a drop-in hub on the high street until 11 October for people to discuss the proposals, and has also created a website.

Pat Smith, from the group, told BBC Radio Surrey that the aim had been to provide residents with more information in a non-political way.

"It's taken a long time, we've been like little moles burrowing underground to find it all," she said.

"We thought, well, we've got to do this. We've got to make it more understandable to people because this is such an important democracy change."

She said the number of residents they had spoken to who did not know about the changes was "staggering" and that she was concerned about the speed of what was happening.

"Although councils are doing everything they can to try and prepare, there are still so many unknowns and it's going through much too quickly," she said.

'Fix the foundations'

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We have consulted with local people and businesses in Surrey on proposals about how local councils should be organised, and are carefully considering this before responding."

Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey County Council, said: "We are clear in our belief that two councils will strengthen, save and simplify local government in Surrey.

"This is our recommendation to government – based on evidence and our local knowledge – but it is now their decision, and we expect them to make an announcement this month."

A spokesman for Surrey County Council said it would be an "impactful decision for residents" and encouraged them to "keep informed via official sources such as government or councils".

Hannah Dalton, leader of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, who also chaired the group of nine authorities that are supporting having three unitary authorities, said they were "preparing to take this opportunity to deliver local government that works for local people".