06/05/2026
Difficult Choices
Elections will be held this Thursday May 7th to select members for the new West Surrey Unitary Authority (WUSA), which after a year operating as a 'Shadow' Authority, will assume the responsibilities previously held by Surrey County Council and the various boroughs, including Guildford Borough Council, and districts in the West Surrey area on April 1st
It is inevitable that these local elections, which have largely been driven by the major political parties to concentrate on the national political agenda, have given limited consideration to local issues, which include:
> A particularly difficult financial situation inherited from its predecessor authorities, which is now starting to be documented fully.
> Creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Surrey in the future.
> Significant changes to the NHS's organisational structure
> The introduction of new planning policies
> For the Guildford Area the requirement to complete a new Local Plan within 30 months.
> Not forgetting the risks and challenges of integrating the constituent councils into one organisation.
Selecting good councilor’s to the WUSA will be critical to make the WUSA effective.
Competence required from new Councilors
