Local government reorganisation
Epsom & Ewell's last year as a council
On 1 April 2027, East Surrey Council takes over every service the borough and Surrey County Council currently provide. Here is what that means for your money, your services and who you contact.
208
days until 1 April 2027
29
weeks
6
months
Until then nothing changes day to day. Bins, planning, parking and housing stay with EEBC. Roads, schools and social care stay with Surrey County Council.
Who is in East Surrey Council
- Elmbridge
- Epsom & Ewell
- Mole Valley
- Reigate & Banstead
- Tandridge
- Surrey County Council (eastern area)
Shadow authority leader: Cllr Steve Wotton.
Surrey LGR HubTimeline
28 Oct 2025
Government confirms two Surrey unitaries
East Surrey and West Surrey Councils to replace all twelve existing councils.
10 Feb 2026
EEBC sets its final budget
Balanced 2026/27 budget agreed without drawing on reserves. Band D borough charge £239.85.
7 May 2026
First East Surrey Council election
Councillors elected to a shadow authority with a five year first term.
20 May 2026
Shadow authority first meeting
Held in Reigate. Leader and shadow executive appointed.
Now to Mar 2027
Shadow period
EEBC keeps delivering services. Shadow authority sets 2027/28 council tax, staffing and governance.
31 Mar 2027
EEBC dissolved
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, created in 1937, ceases to exist along with Surrey County Council.
1 Apr 2027
Vesting day
East Surrey Council delivers every local service for Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge.
What EEBC hands over: reserves
Forecast balances at 31 March 2026 (forecast), £'000. These transfer to East Surrey Council.
| Reserve | Mar 2025 | Movement | Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
General Fund working balance Minimum £1,500k agreed July 2025. Only £55k headroom. | 2,755 | -1,200 | 1,555 |
Corporate Projects reserve Available for general use. Expected to absorb the 2025/26 overspend. | 3,838 | -1,863 | 1,975 |
Contingencies (not for general use) Includes £5.7m to cover loss of commercial property income. | 14,005 | -1,645 | 12,360 |
Ringfenced grants Must be spent on the purpose they were given for. | 1,893 | -1,372 | 521 |
| Total revenue reserves | 22,491 | -6,080 | 16,411 |
The gap the new council inherits
In July 2025 EEBC forecast a £5.1m shortfall over three years. Better government funding and £700k of released budgets cut that to £579k: nothing in 2026/27, then £206k and £373k in the two years East Surrey Council will own.
See how the gap closed →Cost of reorganising
EEBC contributes a one off £454k towards LGR costs, funded from the Strategic Priorities reserve rather than the 2026/27 budget.
Section 24 consent
The shadow authority has given general consent for existing councils to continue approved projects in their 2026/27 budgets until vesting day, so the capital programme is not frozen.
Who do I contact until April 2027?
Borough services
Bins, recycling, planning, housing, parking, parks, environmental health. Contact EEBC or your borough councillor.
Find your councillor →County services
Roads, pavements, street lights, schools, social care, libraries. Contact Surrey County Council.
Report a highway issue →Questions about the new council
Contact your East Surrey shadow councillor, elected on 7 May 2026.
Shadow councillorsSources
Reserves and gap figures from the Budget Report 2026/27 (sections 10, 12 and 18). Timeline from Surrey LGR Hub, Surrey County Council and EEBC news releases. Budget Report · Surrey LGR Hub