Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has confirmed it will not proceed with plans to create community councils in the borough after consultation responses indicated a lack of public support.
The announcement follows an expensive Residents’ Association led nine-month Community Governance Review (CGR) exploring whether the borough should introduce parish-style local councils – sometimes referred to as community councils – ahead of the planned reorganisation of local government in Surrey.
In a media statement issued on 4th March, the council said responses to the second phase of consultation showed residents did not support the proposals.
Consultation result halts proposal
Councillor John Beckett (RA Auriol) chair of the council’s Standards and Constitution Committee, said the engagement process had asked residents both whether they wanted parish councils and, later, for views on a model dividing the borough into two areas.
The proposal would have created two bodies: Epsom Community Council and Ewell Community Council.
Beckett said: “Responses to the phase two consultation indicate that, at this time, residents do not support the proposals that were consulted upon. The recommendation that will be discussed at full Council is that the Community Governance Review is now concluded and will not be progressed further.”
Councillors are expected to formally confirm the decision at a full council meeting scheduled for 12 March.
Threat of legal challenge
The decision comes after a formal pre-action legal letter warned the council it could face judicial review if it proceeded to create the councils.
Local resident and former senior local government chief executive Nathan Elvery wrote to EEBC chief executive Jackie King on 4th March raising concerns about the consultation process.
In the letter, sent under the judicial review pre-action protocol, Elvery argued the review process was procedurally flawed and warned that if the council made a reorganisation order creating the councils he would seek to have it quashed by the courts.
His challenge raised a number of potential grounds including:
• alleged flaws in the design of the first consultation survey
• reliance on a response rate of around 352 replies from roughly 57,000 electors
• concerns that residents may not have been given full financial information about possible council tax precepts
• failure to present alternative governance models
• and consultation timing spanning the Christmas period.
He also submitted a series of Freedom of Information requests seeking internal documents, financial modelling and details of the consultation design.
Elvery requested the Council defer any decision until the issues were addressed and warned that proceeding regardless could lead to legal proceedings.
Experienced public sector leader
Elvery is a long-standing public sector leader with more than three decades of experience in local government transformation and finance.
He has served in senior roles including chief executive, chief operating officer and executive director across a range of councils and national public sector bodies, and now runs a consultancy advising councils and senior leaders.
Long-running debate
The CGR began in 2025 following Surrey’s Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) plans, which will abolish the borough council and replace it with a new East Surrey unitary authority expected to take over services in 2027.
Supporters of community councils argued they could preserve a layer of local representation after the borough council disappears.
Critics, however, warned they would create a new tax-raising tier of government funded through an additional council tax precept.
Early council estimates suggested a precept of around £43–£46 per Band D household, though opponents argued the real cost could rise significantly depending on staffing and responsibilities.
Readers sceptical in Epsom and Ewell Times survey
An Epsom & Ewell Times reader survey on local government reorganisation gathered 112 opinions. The survey showed a big majority against the idea of new parish-style councils. The survey offered an opportunity for residents to express an opinion about alternative neighbourhood area committees. An option the Council had not provided in its consultation.
The survey results suggested readers were more concerned with maintaining effective local representation and protecting services during the transition to the new unitary authority.
Readers also expressed caution about adding an additional tier of governance funded by council tax.
And readers by a clear majority are against maintaining even a ceremonial mayoralty for the Borough.
The full survey results can be read here:
https://epsomandewelltimes.com/epsom-and-ewell-times-lgr-reader-survey-results
Elections in Epsom and Ewell to the new East Surrey Council are due to take place in May.
Related reports:
Epsom and Ewell Times LGR reader survey results
Epsom and Ewell Parish councils decision looms amid questions over cost, timing and scrutiny
Letters from local Councillors on Epsom and Ewell parishes
Is Epsom and Ewell getting “proportional representation” under Council shake-up?
Long serving Epsom Councillor blasts LGR and NACs
Parish power, democratic ideals — and the Residents’ Association dilemma
Public of Epsom and Ewell to be asked if they want two new Councils