Reigate & Banstead asks residents for input to local government reorganisation plans
Today, 31 March, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council launches a survey to gain insights from local residents to help shape the future of local government.
The proposed re-organisation will change the way that all council services are delivered in the future. We want your voice to help shape what happens next. The English Devolution White Paper set out the Government’s plans to simplify local government. Instead of some services (like education, adult and children’s social care and roads) run by Surrey County Council, and others (like bin collections, planning, and housing) run by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, councils will be combined into unitary authorities that will deliver all the services in your area.
An Interim Plan was submitted to Government on 21 March on behalf of all 12 councils in Surrey, proposing the county is divided into two or three unitary councils. We are now asking for the views of residents to influence the next phase of the process, ahead of submitting the full proposal to Government by 9 May 2025.
We are also working with Crawley Borough Council to explore options beyond the existing county boundary that could support the interests of our residents – particularly around maximising the economic growth potential of the already successful Gatwick Diamond economic area.
Cllr Richard Biggs, Leader of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, asserted: “Big changes are coming to how your local services are run. We are committed to doing everything we can to influence Government to create a unitary model in Surrey that serves our residents and businesses best. “Our survey seeks to understand what is most important to people in their local areas and communities, it asks about how and which surrounding areas people use, for views on transport and democracy as well as preferences for local government organisation. We need your help to tell us what you want and what your priorities are so that the plans we submit to Government reflect these as far as possible.”
The survey
Work is happening fast but it’s important that as your local council, we are able to reflect what matters to you. Help shape the future of your local services by responding to our Future of Your Council survey. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete and will close at 12 noon on Monday 21st April 2025. You can skip questions that are not relevant to you.
As a thank you for participating in the survey we’re offering you the chance to enter a prize draw to win one of three £50 Love2Shop vouchers.
If you have any queries, or would like a copy of the survey in a different format, please email engagement@reigate-banstead.gov.uk or contact the customer contact centre by telephone on 01737 276 000 or via SMS if you are deaf or hard of hearing on 07834 626 468 (Monday - Friday between 10am and 4pm).
Wider engagement across Surrey
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is also supporting a broader engagement activity across Surrey – and we would encourage you to complete both surveys. Responses from both will help inform the proposals for Government. The Reigate & Banstead questions are more detailed and will allow us to collect more locally specific information.
The Shaping Surrey’s Future survey is open for comments until Sunday 20 April.
