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Woking Corruption

What changes for residents in April 2027?

Evidence checked 13 September 2026

West Surrey Council takes over county and borough services in its area from 1 April 2027. Until then, existing councils remain responsible for services. The shadow council prepares the new organisation. Who does what during Surrey reorganisation (Checked 13 September 2026)

Download the one-page guide for Waverley residents (PDF) · Read the printable HTML version

Which council should I contact?

Until 31 March 2027, contact your existing borough council for its services and Surrey County Council for county services. The official transition guide says existing councils continue to deliver and support services during this period. Official contact guidance.

West Surrey will cover Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking. East Surrey covers Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge. Each new council brings the county and borough functions together in its area.

Keep using published council contact details until official replacement arrangements are announced. For elected representatives, see the May 2026 election results.

What happens to my council tax?

For 2026/27, Woking’s Band D borough charge is £307.05, up £8.94, approximately 3%. The full Band D bill is £2,598.04, including the other authorities’ charges. A change in the borough element is not the same percentage change as the whole bill. Approved Woking budget 2026/27 (3 March 2026) · Council Tax 2026 to 2027: statutory notice (March 2026).

This site has not verified an adopted West Surrey council tax schedule for 2027/28. Do not treat older warnings, illustrative debt-per-household figures or campaign proposals as an agreed bill. The new authority’s budget and any arrangements to align charges need their own published decisions.

Does the debt disappear?

Reorganisation and debt repayment are different processes. The government committed £500m towards Woking’s loans for 2026/27. Payments began in September 2026; the published ministerial answer does not give their amounts. Woking debt repayments: ministerial answer (8 September 2026).

The final West Surrey opening balance must account for repayments, asset disposals, borrowing and the division of county assets and liabilities. An old sum of council debt figures is not that opening balance. Follow the recovery tracker.

What should residents watch next?

  • The 2027/28 budget, service commitments and council tax decisions.
  • New contact and payment arrangements announced by the councils.
  • Completed asset sales, net proceeds and how much debt is actually repaid.
  • Published scrutiny of transition costs and recurring savings.

See the chief executive assessment and the accountability tracker.