Interim monitoring officers selected for East and West Surrey shadow councils

Surrey is on a fast-tracked timetable for local government reorganisation, with plans to launch two new authorities – East Surrey and West Surrey – in April 2027.

The county’s existing local authorities have been meeting on joint committees for East and West Surrey since January 2026 to help guide reorganisation.

At their final meetings held on Monday (11 May), the committees selected the interim chief executives, 151 officers and monitoring officers for the future authorities.

Susan Sale has been appointed as interim Monitoring Officer for the West Surrey shadow authority, while Daniel Bainbridge has been appointed as interim Monitoring Officer for East Surrey's shadow authority.

Sale is currently the Joint Strategic Director of Law, Democracy and People (Monitoring Officer) at Guildford Borough Council & Waverley Borough Council.

Bainbridge is the Head of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer) at Elmbridge Borough Council.

Andy Brown – who is Surrey County Council’s deputy chief executive and section 151 officer – has been selected as interim Head of Paid Service for West Surrey.

Vicky Radford – the Director of Finance (s151 officer) at Surrey Heath Borough Council’s – will meanwhile take on the section 151 officer role at West Surrey.

Adam Chalmers is interim Head of Paid Service for East Surrey, and will be accompanied by Nikki O’Connor as Interim Chief Finance Officer (s151 officer).

Chalmers is currently Chief Executive of Elmbridge Borough Council, while O’Connor is Assistant Director of Finance (Corporate) at Surrey County Council.

The interim designations will remain in place until the appointment of substantive post holders, which must take place by December 2026.

Adam Carey