The current ‘two tier’ system of local government in Surrey is changing.  Surrey County Council (SCC) and its eleven District and Borough Councils, including Mole Valley (MVDC), are being shut down and replaced by two (possibly three) new Unitary Authorities (UA).  The change will affect ALL residents and businesses in Surrey and ALL Council services, e.g. waste collection, planning & development, roads, social services, parks & recreation, housing and many more.

The Residents’ Associations of Ashtead, Bookham, Fetcham and Leatherhead recognise that MVDC is conducting a Community Governance Review and we urge residents to take part in the consultation.  However, we wish to make it clear that in view of the imminent abolition of MVDC and the creation of a new UA covering our district, we do not think it is appropriate at present to impose more change on residents. 

We do not exclude the possibility that after local government reforms have taken effect residents may then wish to consider whether creating additional Parish and Town Councils may be of benefit.  However, residents must not simply be “consulted” on creating new tax raising local councils, there should be a referendum with a democratic majority vote to decide. 

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