Council leader talks about devolution and services

New unitary councils will make local government simpler and more cost effective, the leader of Surrey County Council says.

Local government reorganisation, fixing roads and special educational needs provision were among the topics discussed when Tim Oliver appeared on the hot seat to answer questions on the BBC Radio Surrey breakfast programme on Wednesday.

He said: "I think from a residents perspective, what unitaries will do is provide stronger, simpler and, I hope, more cost effective, more efficient councils."

The council submitted plans to central government earlier in May for how local government could look in the future with fewer, larger councils responsible for services.

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Surrey County Council, supported by Elmbridge Borough Council and Mole Valley District Council, is proposing that two new councils are created, with one in the east and another in the west.

Most of the borough and district councils have submitted a plan to have three authorities and been critical of the idea of having two.

Elections that were due to take place in 2025 in Surrey have been postponed until 2026 as part of the devolution plans.

The council's provision for children with additional needs has been previously criticised, with the cabinet member responsible saying the authority was "resolute" in its ambition to improve.

Its children's services department was rated "good" on Friday, after "inadequate" ratings in 2015 and 2018.

In January Matt Furniss, the council's cabinet member for highways, transport, and economic growth, said almost £300m had been allocated to repair and improve Surrey's roads until 2028.

Oliver has been the leader of the county council since 2018, and is a councillor for the Weybridge division.

In 2024, he was awarded an OBE for services to local government.

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