Combined Authorities: Surrey
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2026 to Question 1940 on Combined Authorities: Surrey, whether the strategic authority will have a mayor.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan
On 12 February, the Government wrote to all local authorities without a devolution agreement, including those in Surrey, inviting them to develop proposals for a non-mayoral Foundation Strategic Authority. The government is considering the proposals received.
Mayoral devolution works best when it is built on strong local foundations. While there is no requirement for areas with a Foundation Strategic Authority to move to a mayoral model, we see Foundation Strategic Authorities as an important step in building institutional capability at the regional level ahead of, and to maximise the effectiveness of, any future move to mayoral devolution.
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