Surrey's Bold Move: Woking Council Secures £500M Bailout Amid Major Restructuring

Woking councils historic £500m bailout from the government marks a pivotal restructuring effort in Surreys local government, paving the way for new mega council unitary authorities.

• The government, led by communities secretary Steve Reed, has approved a £500m bailout for the bankrupt Woking council to address its significant debt.
• This unprecedented financial intervention aims to facilitate the creation of two new unitary authority councils in Surrey, which will streamline local governance.
• The merger involves multiple districts of England, including the former Tory-run Woking council, and is a response to ongoing financial challenges faced by local government.