East Surrey residents face a new council in 2027
Adam Chalmers has been appointed Chief Executive of the new East Surrey Council, which is due to replace several existing local authorities from April 2027.
Chalmers is currently Interim Head of Paid Service for East Surrey Shadow Council and Chief Executive of Elmbridge Borough Council. He hopes to begin the new role in September 2026, giving him time to help prepare the authority before it is fully established.
A new unitary council for East Surrey
The appointment forms part of Surrey’s local government reorganisation programme. The county’s existing 12 councils are due to be replaced by two new unitary councils in April 2027, with East Surrey among the authorities being created.
A unitary council is responsible for a wider range of local services within its area, bringing functions currently handled by different tiers of local government into one authority. The source announcement does not set out any immediate changes to services, council tax or local facilities.
Councillor Steve Wotton, Leader of East Surrey Shadow Council, said Chalmers had more than 20 years of local government experience and a record of improving services, supporting communities and delivering value for residents.
Councillor David Lewis, Leader of the Conservative Group on East Surrey Shadow Council, also backed the appointment, citing Chalmers’s experience and commitment to delivering services for residents.
Preparation continues before April 2027
Chalmers said the new council had an opportunity to build on the strengths of existing councils and create a financially stable organisation. He also said residents should remain at the heart of the transition.
The next confirmed stage is Chalmers’s planned start in September 2026, followed by the establishment of East Surrey Council in April 2027. The appointment of a permanent Chief Executive for West Surrey is still in progress.
Source: Surrey County Council Press Releases
Context & actions About this article
Source check Source trail
The appointment, proposed start date and reorganisation timeline were checked against the supplied Surrey County Council announcement.
- Confirmed Adam Chalmers’s current roles
- Checked the planned September 2026 start
- Checked the April 2027 council reorganisation date
- Confirmed the separate West Surrey appointment remains in progress
- Source
- Surrey County Council Press Releases
- Scope
- East Surrey
- Updated
- 2026-07-29 16:58
Source check
Report a trust issue
Send a clear signal to community moderation if the source, facts or context need review.
Comments