Surrey's Devolution Agreement
With unitarisation moving forward and no clear plan for managing council debt, your MP is pushing for proper representation, financial transparency, and the protection of essential public services.
Al Pinkerton has opposed the postponement of the local elections in May 2025, arguing that residents of Surrey Heath must have their voices heard and be able to exercise their democratic right to vote. Despite this, devolution agreements are moving forward, raising questions about what unitarisation will mean for Surrey.
Several local councils, including Woking, have accumulated significant debt over the past decade, yet the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has not provided clarity on how this debt will be addressed. Al is deeply concerned about how core services will function under these circumstances.
Our MP has questioned the Secretary of State for MHCLG and the Minister for Local Government and Devolution on how councils will operate effectively, given their past failures in managing public services. Al will continue campaigning to secure the best deal for Surrey and ensure that his constituents are properly consulted throughout the process.
The future of Surrey remains uncertain, but it is essential that proper representation is maintained. Unitary authorities must not be allowed to make decisions for communities miles away without local stakeholders being consulted.
