Reigate residents can see East Surrey council plans take shape

DE demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-30 10:04 3 min read

Residents interested in how the new East Surrey Council is being formed can attend the next East Surrey Shadow Authority Meeting in Reigate.

The public council meeting is free to attend and will take place at 2pm on Thursday 24 September 2026 in the Council Chamber at Woodhatch Place, Reigate. It is intended for members of the general public who want to observe discussions about the transition to the new authority.

East Surrey Shadow Authority Meeting details

The meeting follows the authority’s work to prepare for the launch of the new East Surrey Council on 1 April 2027. Its discussions are expected to cover the transition and the governance and local authority planning needed before the new council begins operating.

What the meeting follows

At its 29 July meeting, the East Surrey Shadow Council appointed a permanent Chief Executive and continued work on creating an organisation that is financially resilient and well governed.

Councillors also approved joining the Public Sector Audit Appointments national scheme for the appointment of external auditors from 2027/28. The source council said independent auditors will support scrutiny of public money and strengthen financial governance.

Members received an update on plans for a Foundational Strategic Authority for Surrey, which would support collaboration on transport, housing, skills and economic growth. The Government is expected to begin consultation with councils and strategic partners later in 2026.

The authority also debated the future culture and identity of the new council. A ‘Debate not Hate’ motion reaffirmed the aim of creating a respectful and inclusive democratic culture, with debate free from intimidation, harassment and abuse.

Civic identity and local decision-making

Other discussions focused on preserving East Surrey’s civic heritage, including borough status, mayoralties and ceremonial traditions. The communities named in the source include Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Reigate & Banstead, Mole Valley and Tandridge.

Councillors also considered ways to keep decision-making close to local communities. Proposals included reviewing local governance arrangements, supporting town and parish councils where there is local demand, and exploring the devolution of services, assets and funding to local organisations. The motion was not passed, although the source reported general support for building localism into future plans.

Readers who follow local government developments may also find this overview of another council’s civic meeting arrangements useful for comparison.

What residents should check before attending

The confirmed details are the date, start time, venue, free cost and public-meeting status. The source does not provide an end time, booking instructions, transport information or accessibility details, so residents should rely on the organiser for any further arrangements.

The next confirmed step is the meeting at 2pm on Thursday 24 September 2026 in the Council Chamber at Woodhatch Place, Reigate.

Source: Surrey County Council Press Releases

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The event details and council-planning context were checked against the supplied Surrey County Council Press Releases source.

Checks

• Confirmed the meeting date, 2pm start time and public-meeting status
• Confirmed the Council Chamber at Woodhatch Place in Reigate as the venue
• Checked the 1 April 2027 launch date for the new East Surrey Council
• Separated confirmed details from missing end-time, booking, transport and accessibility in...

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Source

Surrey County Council Press Releases

Scope

East Surrey

Updated

2026-07-30 10:04

Report

Article contextPeople & topics3

Steve WottonKirsty HewensAdam Chalmers

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