Local Government Reform is scheduled to take place in May 2027 and will see the end of both Surrey County Council (SCC) and Waverley Borough Council (WBC), to be replaced by either two or three Unitary Councils in Surrey.
Last week, the twelve Surrey Councils (SCC and the eleven Districts and Boroughs) voted on the future of Farnham.
Farnham Residents Councillors at Waverley Borough Council (WBC) voted unanimously for Farnham to be part of West Surrey (see map above), one of three Unitary Councils, containing Guildford, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking.
However, Farnham Residents Councillors at SCC were denied such an opportunity.
Although they fundamentally objected to the SCC proposal that Farnham should be in one of only two Unitary Councils, along with Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath and Woking, all they could do was note a decision to be made by the SCC cabinet.
Why is this important?
If Farnham is one of only two Unitary Councils, it faces exposure to the unsupported debt of over £5.5bn, mainly, but not exclusively, related to Spelthorne and Woking Borough Councils. This debt was incurred as a result of the Government encouraging councils to borrow from the public purse in order to make investments, an initiative ironically designed to reduce council tax.
Since Farnham is currently part of WBC, a council that has been financially prudent, the residents of Farnham should not be asked to share the burden of those insolvent councils who have made catastrophic property investment decisions.
Farnham Residents Group believes that this unsupported debt must be addressed by the government in order to enable a successful transition to a new unitary council framework and, if you agree, you can sign our petition here.
So, what happens next?
Unfortunately, Farnham has to wait for the Government to decide our future.
A Labour Government that has no representation in our town and very little in the district, borough and county councils which it has decided to replace with something that it can control centrally.
Farnham Residents Group will not support any position where our residents may be required to pay increased council taxes, see discretionary expenditure on local initiatives reduced and/or see our local council assets used to cover these debts.
Our Councillors will always put Farnham first, to protect our unique sense of local identity and place. As a result, and to ensure stronger local democratic accountability, representation, and community empowerment, we favour a Local Authority structure containing three Unitary Councils.
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