Glossary

Aggregation refers to the process of combining data, resources, services, or functions from multiple councils into a new authority. 

The most senior corporate, executive, or administrative officer in charge of managing an organisation. This role is sometimes referred to as the Chief Executive.  

In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government. It means decisions are made closer to the local people, communities, and businesses they affect. 

In the context of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), refers to the process of separating and redistributing services, functions, resources, and data into the new authorities. 

The English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024 is the Government’s statement of its plans to reform local government. This includes a wide range of proposals on devolution but also plans for local government reorganisation, and changes to local audit. 

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bills was published on 10 July 2025. The Bill builds on the Government’s English White Paper (December 2024) and signals a significant shift of powers from central government to local leaders. Key points in the Bill include the establishment of a new tier of authority in England (the strategic authority) and the intention for all councils in England to secure devolution that works for them, their local economies and their residents.  

An Established Mayoral Strategic Authority is a mature Mayoral Strategic Authority that meets further specified eligibility criteria to unlock the full range of powers in the devolution framework, and greater devolved funding.

A Foundational Strategic Authority could be either a single upper tier authority or multiple authorities, and is available to areas without an elected mayor and has limited devolved powers e.g. acts as Local Transport Authority. It would not give the area access to any Mayoral powers or devolved funding, such as an investment fund or integrated settlement.

A document required by legislation; it must contain detailed plans and timetables showing how the new unitary authority will be delivered effectively.

A document required by legislation; it must contain detailed plans and timetables showing how the new unitary authorities will be delivered effectively.

Local government reorganisation is the process by which the structure and responsibilities of local authorities are reconfigured. The government White Paper states that unitary councils can lead to better outcomes for residents, save significant money which can be invested in public services, and improve accountability with fewer politicians who are more able to focus on delivering for residents.

Joint committees set the framework for tasks taken forward by shadow authorities. Both joint committees (East and West) will meet monthly and will rotate around their areas, until the shadow authorities are formed after the elections in May 2027. 

In the conext of devolution, a mayor is a directly-elected leader of a geographic region. Directly-elected mayors with expanded powers are expected to provide accountability and clearer leadership. They will be best positioned to drive economic development in their regions.

A Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) is a type of local government body that is led by a directly-elected mayor. The MSA is responsible for overseeing strategic programmes such as local transport, economic development, strategic planning and other high-level services. The powers available to a mayor in an MSA span various critical areas, ensuring coordinated and effective governance across the region. Additionally, the concept of devolution plays a significant role in the functioning of an MSA, as it involves the transfer of powers and responsibilities from central government to local authorities, allowing for more localised decision-making and tailored solutions to regional needs.

Government department which is  responsible for local government reorganisation and devolution.

Neighbourhood Area Committees are groups that aim to bring people together and create opportunities for local collaboration and insight gathering in towns and villages. NACs for four locations are currently in their pilot phase in Surrey (East Elmbridge, Dorking and the villages in Mole Valley, North Tandridge in Tandridge, and Farnham in Waverley).

Section 24 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 allows the Secretary of State to issue a direction that restricts the financial and contractual activities of local authorities that are to be dissolved under a structural change order. This is to ensure that the current councilsdo not make significant financial or contractual commitments that could affect the future authorities' ability to manage their resources effectively.

The senior responsible owner is accountable for a programme or project meeting its objectives, delivering the projected outcomes and realising the required benefits within the policies set by ministers. 

The senior responsible officer for devolution and local government reorganisation in Surrey is Terence Herbert, Chief Executive of Surrey County Council.

A shadow authority is established to carry out the functions of a new unitary council until that authority formally comes into effect. This is commonly called “vesting day”.   

The shadow authority will manage the transition period and ensure that the new unitary councils are ready to take over all functions and responsibilities from the current councils. This includes setting up governance structures, appointing key officers, and ensuring that all necessary preparations are made for the future councils to become fully operational.

Strategic authorities are a new, category of devolved authorities, set out in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Strategic authorities will have responsibility for overseeing strategic programmes such as transport infrastructure, economic development, health improvement, and other high-level services.

The Structural Changes Order (SCO) is the legal instrument that creates the shadow authorities. It also puts in place the process by which those authorities will assume responsibility for the delivery of services in the following years. 

Two-tier authorities are where:

• County councils provide services that cover the whole county such as education, waste disposal and adult social care
• District councils (sometimes called borough or city councils) are smaller and provide local services such as refuse collection, environmental health, and leisure facilities
• Parish and town councils are smaller and have differing local responsibilities

Unitary authorities are a single tier of local government responsible for all local services in an area. They may cover a whole county, part of a county or a large town or city.

Vesting Day is when the new unitary authorities formally come into effect and take over from the shadow authorities. In Surrey, vesting day will be 1 April 2027.