The Future of Guildford: Why a Town Council Matters

As local government undergoes its biggest shake-up in decades, Guildford stands at a crossroads. With the merger of borough and county functions into the new West Surrey Unitary Council (WSUA) planned for 2027, the way our services are managed is about to change.

While a large unitary council offers efficiency, it risks leaving Guildford – the historic heart of our area – without a local, dedicated voice. A Town Council would be that voice.

What is a Town Council?

A town council is the most local level of government in England. It is the part of government closest to everyday life in a town, village or neighbourhood. It’s the same as a parish council, just a bit larger and more urban than a parish council.

Councillors are local residents, elected by their neighbours every four year to represent local views and to campaign on local concerns such as traffic, development or services. Councillors can stand for election as representatives of a political party, but many are independent of party politics.

The council also employs a clerk, who handles the administration of the council and ensures legislation is complied with.

Town councillors are often unpaid volunteers, who give their time for the benefit of their community. If the council chooses to, they may receive a contribution to expenses or an allowance which allows them to carry out their work.

What Exactly Does a Town Council Do?

Towns and parish councils can decide the sorts of activities they would like to provide for their residents, and there are some key functions that almost all town councils perform. These include:

• Public Spaces: Management of local parks, allotments, and floral displays.
• Community Assets: Oversight of community centres, public toilets, and the Mayor’s office.
• Small-Scale Infrastructure: Maintenance of bus shelters, benches, and litter bins.
• Planning Voice: Acting as a "statutory consultee" to ensure the views of local residents are heard on developments before they are decided by the local planning authority, which would be the West Surrey Unitary.

Protecting the “Nice-to-Haves”

The West Surrey Unitary Council will be legally required to fund high-cost services like Adult and Children’s Services, Housing, Waste Management and Planning. However, it will not be required to fund the local services that support our vibrant local economy, such as Christmas lights, heritage events, and the upkeep of our unique town-centre amenities. A unitary council will not prioritise the small things that make daily life enjoyable, such as clean, safe play equipment and community hubs.

When budgets are tight, these discretionary services are often the first to be cut. A Guildford Town Council would ring-fence these funds, ensuring Guildford stays vibrant rather than being treated as just another postcode in a vast administrative zone.

The Cost: A Small Slice of the Pie

A Town Council is funded through a precept, which is a small addition to your Council Tax. This precept pays for the town clerk and the services that the council chooses to operate.

It is important to put this cost into perspective. Currently, in areas of Surrey that already have parish councils, this local charge typically represents about 1% to 2% of your total annual bill. While most of your tax (roughly 75%) goes to the County for major services like social care, the Town Council portion is the only part that is raised in Guildford and stays in Guildford.

Some people are worried about the additional cost of a precept on their council tax. The precept is a council tax, so any relief that is available for council tax is also applicable to the precept.

Tapping Into Developer Funds

A Town Council could also unlock a vital revenue stream: Developer Funds.

When new houses are built, developers are required to pay a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in some boroughs. Guildford Borough has not adopted CIL, but we are gathering the evidence necessary to start the process, as part of the Local Plan Update.

Where there is a Town council with a Neighbourhood Plan, 25% of that money is handed directly to the local community to spend on projects residents actually want.

Where there is no Town Council, that figure drops to 15%, and the money is held by the distant Unitary Council, where it may be spent elsewhere in West Surrey.

The Bottom Line

A Guildford Town Council is an insurance policy for our community. For about 1% of your tax bill, it keeps your money local, protects the soul of the town from budget cuts, and ensures we get the maximum possible funding from new developments.

A Town Council is the hyper-local tier of government. While the massive West Surrey Unitary authority focuses on strategic issues like social care and major highways, a Town Council handles the things you see when you step out of your front door.

Have Your Say

Guildford Borough Council is currently consulting residents on how a Guildford Town Council could be set up. The deadline for submitting your response to the consultation is 1st March 2026.

You can make sure you have your say by:

• Completing the questionnaire online: the quickest and most cost-effective way. Click here to go to the questionnaire.
• Complete a printed questionnaire: If you live in the unparished urban area of Guildford, an information pack will have been sent to your household by Guildford Borough Council.  
  Once complete, please return this by post to Guildford Borough Council either:
  • in person (Sat nav postcode GU2 4BE)  
  • OR by post to the address below:  
    Community Governance Review 
    Millmead House 
    Millmead 
    Guildford 
    Surrey, GU2 4BB  
  • OR take a clear photo of your paper response and email it as an attachment to CGR@guildford.gov.uk.