Three areas of county to be used as pilot for local government shake-up

A NEW way of running local government is going to be trialled in select parts of Surrey, with three areas chosen to pilot 'Neighbouring Area Committees.'

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This is all part of the huge overhauling of the way Surrey is run. Currently, plans are being drawn up to change the county from a two-tier system (county council with borough councils underneath) into a number of unitary councils.

While this is the bigger picture, change is also happening on the smaller scale. Groups are being set up to bring together representatives from the current county council alongside those from other Government and voluntary groups.

The groups will work to tackle specific issues and needs within their local community and are being designed as a crucial connection for residents into more strategic organisations like the unitary councils that will soon be coming.

As well as county council members, there will be members of district or borough and town or parish councillors alongside Surrey Police, the health system and others.