Local government shake-up is rushed, says MP

The MP for Farnham and Bordon has said a reorganisation of local government is being "rushed' and that authorities like Waverley Borough Council are being forced to merge with places like "debt-ridden" Woking Borough Council.

The county council and eleven borough and district councils will eventually be scrapped, under government plans announced in December.

In the Commons on Monday, Conservative Greg Stafford asked what is being done to make sure his constituents do not have to pay a "financial price".

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the government is offering "unprecedent support" and that the changes to councils will lead to improvements for residents.

Proposals for Surrey include merging existing council areas into two or three new unitary authorities.

Woking declared itself effectively bankrupt in 2023 with £2bn of debt, and has since increased council tax and cut services.

Stafford said: "The rushed local government reorganisation means that Waverley Borough Council in my area will be forced to join with other authorities like Woking which are debt- ridden.

"What is the Secretary of State going to do to ensure that residents in my area don't pay a financial price for the woes of other authorities?"

Rayner told the Commons that there is no proposal for council debt to be written off, but the government accepts that authorities like Woking have "significant unsupported debt that cannot be managed locally in its entirety".

"We have committed providing an initial amount of debt repayments support for these councils in 2027/2027, ahead of the reorganisation," she said.

She added that this "is unprecedented support from government".

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.