Leaders welcome Surrey mayor update in Budget

A proposed agreement for Surrey to get an elected mayor, set out in the Budget, has been welcomed by council leaders.

The document setting out the government's financial plans, which accompanied the Chancellor's speech in Parliament on Wednesday, also set out new details for regional devolution.

The government is in the "final stages of agreeing 10 new devolution agreements" with elected mayors, including one for Surrey, according to the document.

Surrey County Council leader Tim Oliver welcomed the "government's intention to secure a mayor for Surrey" and called for East and West Surrey councils - whose leaders also welcomed the proposal - to "go full throttle" to deliver it.

From April, Surrey County Council will be abolished along with 11 lower-tier councils in the county and replaced with the single-tier West Surrey Council and East Surrey Council.

Chancellor John Healey told the House of Commons he wanted a "radical rewiring of the state" in a push for greater devolution of power to England's regions.

A potential mayor for Surrey would be elected separately to the two councils but work alongside them on any strategic issues when they decided to collaborate, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Oliver said: "Surrey needs to grab this opportunity with both hands to unlock the funding, infrastructure investments, and local decision-making powers that our residents deserve."

The leaders of East Surrey and West Surrey councils said they would work with the government on the proposal.

West Surrey leader Paul Follows, described the announcement as "an important step in what is still the early stage of a conversation".

"We now need to see the detailed proposals to understand exactly what is being offered to Surrey," he said.

East Surrey leader Steve Wotton said a mayor of Surrey could mean "more decisions closer to our communities".

"There are examples elsewhere in the UK of mayors helping improve public services and drive economic growth, and we'd like to secure similar opportunities to improve life for the people we represent," he said.

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Surrey on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.