Surrey County Council has accused the district and borough councils of publishing a ‘purposefully biased’ and ‘misleading’ consultation on local government reorganization.
The county council says the language used in the consultation favours a three unitary option rather than a two unitary option – the preference of the county council.
The consultation states that the two unitary option could ‘feel distant from local communities’ and ‘may take a "one-size-fits-all" approach’.
Surrey CC says these claims are ‘incorrect, unevidenced and suggestive’.
‘Unfortunately, this “consultation” put together by some district and borough councils is purposefully biased and in favour of their proposal,’ said county council leader Tim Oliver.
‘It is misleading to the public and does not provide residents with the correct information to make an informed decision, making the results unreliable.’
Surrey Leaders Group chairperson Hannah Dalton said: 'Local government reorganisation impacts Surrey’s 1.2 million residents, and what matters most is what the residents and businesses of Surrey think, not what we as councillors think. That is why this engagement is so important, because it is residents who are most impacted by this.'
