New East and West Surrey councillors elected

Over the transition year, the shadow authority will set up the new council by agreeing budgets and council tax for 2027/28, confirming staffing and governance arrangements, adopting codes of conduct and allowances, and preparing for the transfer of services.

Residents should continue to use existing county, borough, and district councils until 1 April 2027, while watching the Future Surrey website for updates.

Following the election of councillors on 7 May 2026, the elected councillors will then form the shadow authority for West Surrey Council. This shadow council will meet for the first time on 20 May, when it will choose the Council Leader, Deputy Leader, and Shadow Executive Members.

 East Surrey Council will follow a similar transition process, with councillors elected on 7 May serving first as a shadow authority before the new council formally begins on 1 April 2027. The shadow authority will meet for the first time on 20 May to appoint its leader, deputy leader and shadow executive members, and to start setting budgets, council tax, staffing, governance arrangements and other preparations needed to take over services from the existing councils. Residents should continue to contact their current county, borough and district councillors for normal service enquiries until the new council takes responsibility, and updates on any changes will be shared in due course.

East Surrey: The Liberal Democrats won the council overall with 40 seats, ahead of the Conservatives on 10, the Green Party on 8, and Reform UK on 5.

West Surrey: The Liberal Democrats also won overall, with 56 seats, followed by the Conservatives on 20 and Reform UK on 9. Smaller groups and independents won the remaining seats.