Government to help Woking Borough Council repay debt

The council declared itself effectively bankrupt in 2023 with £2bn of debt.

But in May, the authority said the government had agreed to “aid the reduction” of its financial hole.

The BBC has asked the government how much money they intend to give the council.

Ministers, who are unhappy with the current two-tier system, want to scrap Surrey Council Council (SCC) and the county’s 11 borough and district councils, and set up new unitary authorities.

SCC had backed plans for the county to be split into two unitary authorities, which would see Woking grouped with Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Runnymede, Guildford and Waverley.

However, WBC had supported plans for three unitary authorities, meaning it would be combined with Surrey Heath, Guildford and Waverley.

Speaking on BBC Radio Surrey, SCC’s Conservative leader Tim Oliver said WBC’s debt was expected to be “ringfenced out and therefore won’t have an impact on the new unitary [authority]”.

A government consultation on the proposed authorities finished on Tuesday and a decision on the final plans was expected by the end of 2025.