There is currently a two tier system of local government in Surrey, the county council and the 11 district and borough councils. Generally, the county council is responsible for the more strategic functions and services such as education and social care whereas the districts and boroughs provide more local services. Some functions are shared between county and district.
As part of the local government reorganisation (LGR) process, Surrey will transition from the current two-tier system to a new unitary authority model. Unitary authorities are a single tier of local government responsible for all local services in an area.
Current timelines suggest that elections to new 'shadow' unitary council(s) will take place in May 2026, followed by the official 'vesting day' in April 2027, where the unitary council(s) will officially take hold, existing councils will dissolve, and a new unitary council or councils will deliver all the services.
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- County council's responsibilities
- District and borough council's responsibilities
- Parish and town council's responsibilities
County council's responsibilities
- Birth, marriage and death registration
- Education
- Fire
- Highways – including on-street parking, traffic management, and street lighting
- Libraries
- Recreation, arts and museums
- Social care
- Strategic planning
- Trading standards
- Transport
- Waste disposal
Contact us for further information.
District and borough council's responsibilities
- Collection of council tax and non-domestic rates
- Environmental health
- Housing
- Leisure centres
- Local plans and planning applications
- Public conveniences
- Waste collection
Contact your borough or district council for further information.
District and borough councillors
You can find information about your district/borough councillors online using the Gov.uk website.
Parish and town council's responsibilities
Surrey also has a number of parish and town councils. They have differing responsibilities. Gov.uk provides details on their information about how local councils work. You could also contact your local borough or district council for more information.
