The leaders of Surrey’s 11 councils are urging the government to keep an open mind when it comes to a proposed “unitary status.”

At the moment, services including housing and education, are decided upon by each individual authority.

However, the Government has expressed an interest in fewer councils controlling larger areas.

This could mean one Surrey-wide council serving as many as 1.2 million people.

A joint letter has been submitted to the Government requesting the characteristics of each of the county’s councils be retained.