West Surrey: what residents need to know
From 1 April 2027, Charlton Village will be served by West Surrey Council. This change is called local government reorganisation, or LGR. A unitary council brings county and borough services together in one organisation, so responsibilities currently split between Spelthorne Borough Council and Surrey County Council will sit with the new authority.
West Surrey will cover Spelthorne, Runnymede, Woking, Guildford, Surrey Heath and Waverley. A separate East Surrey Council will serve the other five borough and district areas. The Government has confirmed the change in law.
What to do now: continue to report problems and request services from your existing council. Spelthorne and Surrey County Council remain responsible until the handover. Our Council Services section explains the current responsibilities and lists the contacts to use until then.
Elections took place on 7 May 2026. The elected West Surrey shadow council is preparing budgets, policies and the transfer of services. It does not yet run everyday council services; service enquiries should still go to the existing councils.
For households, the official guidance says bin collections, schools, libraries and care services should continue during the transition. Changes to systems and services will be introduced gradually and communicated by the councils. Do not assume the new structure automatically changes your collection day or the school your child attends. Future Council Tax arrangements and support schemes are being developed; check the official announcements and consultations for confirmed details.
You may also see the proposed name “West Surrey and South Middlesex Council”. The shadow authority supported requesting this name in July 2026 to recognise Spelthorne’s historic identity. The official LGR Hub still uses West Surrey Council while government approval is awaited.
Have your say: use the official links below to follow progress, find your shadow councillors and view current consultations. Please check closing dates on the consultation pages. Keeping Charlton Village’s needs visible—our roads, green spaces, community facilities and access to support—will matter as the new council takes shape.