Surrey County Council was elected every four years and was formed in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888. Since 1965 this council has had one of two statuses as to its body of councillors: no overall political control, or overall Conservative party control. The council is due to be abolished on 1 April 2027, following the creation of East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council
Political context
Its area was significantly altered in 1965, taking much of its north into Greater London and adding an area forming one present district from Middlesex which was dissolved. To accommodate this, councillors elected in 1961 had their three year-term extended for an extra year and the April 1964 election took place in 1965.
Since 1974 all Surrey areas have had district/borough councils providing a second tier of services (see the Local Government Act 1972) replacing Urban Districts and Rural Districts.
Approximately a third of the population elect a further more localised third tier of local government to civil parishes such as Farnham, Claygate and Horley.
Major services provided include social services, minerals strategy and permissions, waste planning and substantial elements of transport (excluding railways) and education. The county has no grammar schools (which tend to have less local authority control) however academies and free schools in the 21st century have been set up in Surrey meaning a lower proportion of schools are run by the authority than in the 20th century.
Council composition
+ Composition of the councilYearConservativeLiberal DemocratsLabourGreenUKIPIndependents& OthersCouncil controlafter election1965Surrey Advertiser, 3 April 1965.571861967Surrey Advertiser, April 1967640351970Surrey Advertiser, 17 April 197064143Local government reorganisation (72 seats)19734691251977680203New division boundaries (76 seats)198161370519855212705198956970419933429805199747176006200151136006New division boundaries (80 seats)2005581220082009561310010New division boundaries (81 seats)20135891139201761911092021471422016
Visual representation
County result maps
By-election results 1997–2001
2001–2005
2005–2009
2009–2013
2013–2017
2017–2021
2021–2027
Notes
References
External links Surrey County Council