Emperor Oliver succeeded in ensuring that he would fight for a Unitary Authority that would swallow up all 11 borough and district councils, including ‘Your Waverley.’
And there we were thinking that only Dictators cancelled elections!
Government confirm Surrey for local government reorganisation and devolution.
Today, the government confirmed that Surrey will be among the first wave of areas to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the government’s devolution agenda.
Last month, the government invited councils across the country to consider being part of its accelerated reform programme, which aims to simplify and streamline local government.
Angela Rayner, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, has also confirmed to Surrey County Council’s Leader, Tim Oliver, that the government has decided to postpone Surrey’s local elections from May to 2026.
The same applies to:
Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent.
Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council, said:
“Now we’ve received confirmation that Surrey is in the first wave of local government reorganisation, we will develop a business case for reorganisation and submit a draft to government in March.
“Arrangements will also be made to postpone local elections in May so the detailed work for reorganisation and devolution can take place. The resources and time that would have been spent on elections for a soon-to-be-abolished council can now be directed to working on the best possible outcome of reorganisation for Surrey.
“I can be absolutely clear that, throughout this process, our vital work supporting residents will continue – services will be delivered and we will still be here for those who need us most – until whatever new council is fully established to take on that delivery.
“I have always been a firm believer that further devolution from Westminster to local regions and communities would be in the best interest of Surrey residents and businesses.
“Of course, any proposal will now need to be worked up in collaboration with local government and other partners across the county so that together we can really grasp this opportunity to deliver something meaningful for the future of Surrey. We’ll keep residents and staff updated every step of the way.”
Reform MP Nigel Farage has accused the Labour government and Tory-controlled councils of “collusion”
He said:
“I thought that only dictators cancelled elections but what I see today is collusion to stave off the threat of Reform UK on May 1.”
Meanwhile, the Conservatives accused Labour of having “massively rushed this whole exercise”.
Shadow communities secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: “There has been no attempt to gather consensus within two-tier areas. Local residents have not been consulted. Council leaders have a ‘gun to their head’ from the Labour Government.
What a Shambles…On the Surrey Live website they have a Poll
Should the local elections go ahead this year?
Yes 84%
No 15%
I don’t know 1%
Who does Tim Oliver think he is?
As far as I am concerned Local Councillors only have a 4 year Mandate which invalidates the powers they have after that time BYE BYE!!!
Wars were fought for less than this; most notably the American war of independence.
Shall we suspend our council tax payments during this time of dictatorship, as surely taxation cannot happen without representation?
What’s going to happen tenants of Waverley council housing if (when) this goes ahead?
They have enough problems as it is.
Will they just be passed up to the new Surrey which will be even more remote and even more crap as a landlord, if that’s actually possible…