Letter to Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP: Surrey's Local Government Reorganisation
Dr Al Pinkerton MP has opposed delaying the May 2025 local elections, insisting Surrey Heath residents must have their democratic say. As plans for devolution and unitarisation accelerate, Al is demanding answers on how councils burdened by debt, like Woking, will protect local services. He continues to press ministers for transparency, fairness and full consultation with affected communities.
Recipient: Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government. 11/06/2025.
Dear Angela,
I am writing to you regarding your recent response to Oral Question 904467, raised by the Honourable Member for Farnham and Bordon, concerning the funding support required in Surrey as we move toward local government reorganisation.
You stated that there is currently no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of this reorganisation. This raises significant concern for my constituents in Surrey Heath, who now face the prospect of absorbing the enormous debts accumulated by neighbouring boroughs such as Woking, Spelthorne and Runnymede under previous Conservative administrations, arising from reckless property gambles and failed commercial ventures. In the event that Surrey is reorganised into two unitary authorities, it is widely considered that the proposed ‘western’ authority would come into existence burdened with approximately £5 billion in accumulated debt, risking effective bankruptcy from the moment of its inception.
While you noted that the Government is committed to providing an initial amount of debt repayment support in 2026–27, there was a lack of clarity about the nature, extent, and assurances of this support. In light of this, I would gratefully appreciate a response to the following questions:
- Can you provide greater clarify on what specific Government support your department will provide to ensure that constituencies like mine, which did not incur this debt, are not unfairly burdened with its repayment?
- Can you provide clear guidance to Surrey County Council and Surrey’s borough councils on future debt-sharing arrangements and how Government support will factor into unitary authority proposals?
It is essential that residents across Surrey, including those in Surrey Heath, are fully consulted in what appears to be a fast-tracked reorganisation process. Any decisions made must be underpinned by transparency, fairness, and a clear understanding of the financial implications, with local voices placed at the heart of decision-making.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your swift response.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Al Pinkerton MP