Dear UNISON Members at Surrey County Council,
We are writing to try to provide the latest update on local government reorganisation (LGR) and the important role our union is playing at this stage. Attached alongside this update is the most recent list of FAQs produced by the council in conjunction with the trade unions.
Surrey County Council and the 11 Borough and District Councils in Surrey are the first councils in the South East to deal with the government decision to reorganise into unitary councils. This means that all the current councils in Surrey will cease to exist as of 1st April 2027 (Vesting Day) and they will be replaced by two unitary councils – one in the East and one in the West.
Elections for the new East and West councils will take place in May this year and the new (shadow) authorities will work alongside the existing councils to prepare for Vesting Day when they will take over.
What This Means for You:
Initially, you will discuss with your line manager regarding where you will work and which of the two councils you will be transferred to. For most staff this will mean little change, if any. If you currently work in a geographical team or location you will likely remain there in your new council. Individual needs may be taken into account if there is a need to change location – UNISON can support you with this if necessary.
This is a major structural change, potentially affecting workplaces, employers, terms and conditions, pensions, and job security. The change will involve transferring from SCC into the new council. The law under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings, Protection of Employment) means there cannot be any restructuring or redundancies as a part of this process, though the new council may soon look at harmonizing (equalizing) the pay, terms and conditions of staff. UNISON will play a key role in any negotiations. We will fight any possible race to the bottom.
What UNISON are currently doing:
- Protecting jobs and pushing for guarantees of no compulsory redundancies.
- Ensuring pay, pensions, and terms and conditions are protected.
- Participating in working groups with SCC to ensure UNISON is involved before any decisions are finalised.
- Developing negotiation guidance and providing training for our representatives.
- Working closely with other unions to protect shared terms and conditions.
- Campaigning for adequate funding to ensure service quality during transition.
What You Can Do:
- Engage with consultations and share any concerns with your UNISON representative.
- Attend your most relevant UNISON AGM meeting during March.
- Consider becoming a UNISON Rep yourself – email unison@surreycc.gov.uk for more information.
Next Steps:
- Members will continue to receive updates as consultation materials are released.
- We will provide further guidance and updates as reorganisation progresses.
In solidarity,
Your UNISON Team