I would SCRAP Waverley Borough Council, says Jeremy Hunt

South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt has said he would SCRAP Waverley Borough Council in favour of beefed-up town and parish councils.

The Godalming MP made the comments as he weighed into the debate about proposals by Surrey County Council to create a county-wide unitary authority.

Waverley councillors last night voted almost unanimously to object to the idea, with Leader John Ward saying the council should build on the goodwill shown by people in the area during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Ward said: "If the experiences of the last few months have taught us anything, it is that a return to 'normal' is not an option, and we have to embrace change. But we cannot support what we feel goes directly against the interests of our residents and takes power away from communities."

But this evening Jeremy Hunt has said he backs the idea of scrapping borough and district councils.

"There is general support for a simplification of our over-complicated three-tier local authority structure but a lot of scepticism about Surrey becoming a single unitary authority," he said.

"I am reluctant to split Surrey up as it runs against our natural identity (I describe myself as from 'Surrey' not 'West Surrey') but I am worried a single authority could make decision-making more distant.

"My preferred solution would be to scrap Waverley and devolve planning and licensing to beefed-up town councils so that the most contentious local decisions were taken even closer to residents."

And he added: "In a dream world I would also go for elected mayors for those town councils, which work so well in France and Germany.

"I know that is not a universally shared view and unlikely to happen this time but hope springs eternal and all that…"

Nub News has approached Waverley for comment.