About the community governance review

The Government’s Structural Changes Order for local government reorganisation in Surrey, which came into force on 10 March 2026, gave the power to finalise and formally make any new town and parish councils (or changes to existing ones) to the new successor council – namely East Surrey Council.

On 14 September, the East Surrey Shadow Authority Executive approved our plans to implement the final recommendations of the CGR so that new parish arrangements will be in place on 1 April 2027.

Implementing new parish arrangements

Legal instruments (known as ‘Orders’) that will enable new parish arrangements to be in place for 1 April 2027 are ready to be signed and submitted.

A polling place and district review to realign polling districts and polling places with the new parish warding arrangements, is underway. We expect to publish the revised register on 1 December 2026.

1 April 2027, new parish arrangements take effect on 1 April 2027, which is also the day that the new East Surrey Council will take over delivering services from the county, district and borough councils in the area.

Elections are expected to take place on 6 May 2027 for existing and new parish and town councils and the newly elected parish councillors take up their posts on 10 May 2027.

Between 1 April and 10 May 2027, East Surrey Councillors with wards that include the new parished areas will represent them as transitional councillors.

The cost of parish councils

Parish councils can vary in size and function and they are funded through a separate annual charge, or ‘precept’, which is collected alongside council tax. For existing town and parish councils in Reigate & Banstead, which have varying functions, the annual charge for a Band D property in 2025/6 is £57.31 in Horley Town Council and £34.83 in Salfords & Sidlow Parish Council.

The creation of the new councils will involve the basic functions of a parish council plus responsibility for any statutory allotments in their areas. The initial estimate of the potential annual precept for a Band D property in the newly established parishes is between £15 and £30, depending on the number of households or electors in each area. This will be confirmed for all bands later in the year.

Should the parish councils wish to take on additional responsibilities beyond year 1, this will be a matter for discussion and agreement with East Surrey Council.