The East Surrey shadow authority is established to prepare for the new East Surrey Council, which will take on responsibility for all local council services from Vesting Day (1 April 2027).
The new council will replace the current arrangements across Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge, as well as the services currently provided by Surrey County Council, bringing everything together under a single organisation.
During the shadow period, the authority is focused on putting the new council in place so that services can transfer smoothly and continue without disruption. You can use this page to find information about meetings, leadership, councillors and the latest updates.
The existing county, borough and district councils will operate as normal until 1 April 2027, and the existing county, borough and district councillors will continue in their roles until then.
East Surrey Council vision
East Surrey Shadow Authority Leader, Councillor Steve Wotton, has shared the initial vision for the future East Surrey Council, outlining ambitions for a council that is open, transparent and focused on delivering for residents, businesses and communities. The vision comes as preparations continue for the new council ahead of April 2027.
Meet your East Surrey Councillors
See who is representing East Surrey and get in contact with your local shadow councillor to ask questions.
Contacting councillors
If your enquiry is about a council service or you need help with an issue, you should continue to contact your existing county, district or borough council, or your local councillor.
If your question is about local government reorganisation or the new East Surrey Council, you can contact your East Surrey shadow councillor.
Shadow councillors can answer questions about the new council but cannot deal with service enquiries or individual casework.
East Surrey Council Committees and meetings
Meetings and events take place throughout the shadow period.
Shadow authority leadership
East Surrey Council has appointed councillors to key roles, including a Leader, Deputy Leader, Chair and Vice Chair. These roles help guide the work of the shadow authority during the transition period.
Appointments of Shadow Authority leadership roles:
- Chair, Cllr Nick Dodds
- Vice Chair, Cllr Neil Houston
- Shadow Authority Leader, Cllr Steve Wotton
- Shadow Authority Deputy Leader, Cllr Kirsty Hewens
Shadow Cabinet Executive Members have also been appointed to support specific areas of work during the transition.
Meet the Cabinet Executive Members
Executive Members Portfolios
- Leadership of the shadow authority
- LGR and Devolution
- Organisational Development including:
- Design and change
- Workforce strategy
- Human Resources
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Digital and Technology
- Data and insight
- Transformation
- Customer services
- Corporate services, including:
- Performance Management
- Policy and strategy
- Internal and external communications
- Engagement and consultation
- Legal Services
- Democratic services and elections
- Economic Development
- Business support
- Regeneration
- Skills
- Inward investment and local employment growth
- High streets, and the development of town and village centres
- Financial strategy, including;
- Budget
- medium-term financial plan
- capital programme
- Treasury management,
- Council Tax and business rates
- Fees and charges
- Commissioning and procurement
- Contract Management
- Property and Asset Management,
- Commercial Investment
- Governance including:
- Internal Audit
- Corporate governance
- Risk management
- Children’s social care
- Safeguarding
- Corporate parenting
- Early help and family support.
- Education, including schools, SEND, and services for children and young people.
- Youth services
- Youth offending
- Adult social care
- Safeguarding Adults
- Commissioning across all Care Act duties
- Care homes, respite care and supported living
- Adults Mental Health
- Support for older and vulnerable adults
- Early Intervention and prevention
- Wellbeing
- Public health responsibilities
- Integration with NHS and community health partners
- Highways and transport services, including;
- Roads and pavements
- Maintenance
- Traffic management
- Parking
- Road safety
- Public and community transport
- Active and sustainable travel
- Planning of strategic transport infrastructure, including local transport plan and bus strategy
- Leisure services
- Libraries
- Museums, Culture and heritage
- Community development
- Tourism
- Voluntary, Community and Faith sector relationships
- Civic engagement and liaison with parish and town councils.
- Registration Services, including births, deaths and marriages
- Community safety
- Environmental services including;
- Waste collection and disposal
- Recycling
- Air quality
- Street cleansing
- Parks and, green spaces.
- Climate change, sustainability and biodiversity
- Decarbonisation
- Regulatory services including:
- Environmental health
- Licensing
- Environmental protection
- Trading Standards
- Emergency Planning, Business Continuity and Resilience.
- Coroners
- Cemeteries and crematoria
- Planning policy, including the Local Plan
- Spatial strategy
- Development management
- Enforcement
- Conservation areas
- Place-shaping and long-term growth
- Housing delivery and infrastructure (working the Executive Members for Housing and Homelessness who leads on housing delivery)
- Housing strategy
- Housing need
- Housing enabling funds
- Housing Revenue Account (HRA)
- Housing allocations
- Homelessness prevention, including temporary accommodation.
- Private sector housing
- Management of Council owned housing
Latest news and updates
You can stay up to date with the latest news from East Surrey, including announcements, progress updates and key decisions as planning continues.