Eight of the current 15 council leaders in Surrey are not standing in the local elections for the shadow unitary authorities this year.

At present, there are 81 county councillors and 453 district councillors. However, there are only 162 seats up for election for the shadow unitaries, 72 in East Surrey and 90 in West Surrey.

The list of all the candidates standing for the two shadow unitary authorities were published on Friday ahead of elections in May.

There are seven current district leaders hoping to be elected to one of the new unitaries:

Epsom & Ewell BC leader Hannah Dalton (Ind)
Guildford BC leader Julia McShane (Lib Dem)
Runnymede BC co-leader Don Whyte (Lib Dem)
Spelthorne BC leader Joanne Sexton (Ind)
Surrey Heath BC leader Shaun MacDonald (Lib Dem)
Waverley BC leader Paul Follows (Lib Dem)
Woking BC leader Ann-Marie Barker (Lib Dem)

However seven district leaders, including three of the four co-leaders of Runnymede BC, and Surrey CC leader Tim Oliver (Con) have not put their name on the ballot papers.

The district leaders not seeking re-election are:

Reigate & Banstead BC leader Richard Biggs (Con)
Elmbridge BC leader Mike Rollings (Lib Dem)
Mole Valley BC leader Bridget Kendrick (Lib Dem)
Tandridge DC leader Catherine Sayer (Ind)
Runnymede BC co-leader Linda Gillham (Ind)
Runnymede BC co-leader Robert King (Lab)
Runnymede BC co-leader Steve Ringham (Green)

Cllr Rollings told LGC that he is not standing to make way for “fresh blood” and added it is a “natural time to not go forward” but “we have some very committed councillors standing”.

“Me not standing is not going to hold East Surrey back”, he said. “Most of the county councillors are standing again so there will be plenty of continuity but also fresh blood”.

Even though Cllr Rollings was a supporter of the plans to split the county into two unitary authorities, he said: “I think that most district and borough councillors think that this local government reorganisation has been a bit of a rushed job and not enough thought has gone into it”.

He added: “Time will tell if LGR will lead to buyers’ remorse or if we will reap the benefits.”

His wish is that Elmbridge BC is remembered “fondly” even though “like most councils, it has become a scapegoat” for national decisions, he added.

Following the elections this year, East and West Surrey councils will operate in shadow form before vesting day on 1 April 2027, when Surrey’s 11 districts and the county will formally dissolve.