Bracknell Forest chief Susan Halliwell will lead the council replacing Guildford Borough Council from April 2027. Her appointment was confirmed on 10 September.

The council that will run Guildford from April 2027 has its first permanent chief executive. Susan Halliwell, currently chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council, was confirmed in the West Surrey Council role at an extraordinary meeting of the West Surrey Shadow Authority on 10 September (Surrey LGR Hub).

West Surrey Council takes over from Guildford Borough Council, Surrey County Council and the borough councils of Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking on 1 April 2027. Guildford Borough Council is abolished the day before. As we reported this week, that timetable stands even though ministers have paused council mergers across much of England, because the two new Surrey councils are already established in law.

Who she is

Halliwell was selected as the preferred candidate after a national recruitment campaign, according to the shadow authority’s pre-meeting announcement. It sets out her background:

  • more than 20 years in local government, currently as chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council
  • lead chief executive of South East Strategic Leaders, a grouping of councils across the region
  • previously executive director of place at West Berkshire Council, with earlier senior roles at Oxfordshire County Council
  • experience leading devolution and local government reorganisation programmes

She was also recommended for appointment as West Surrey’s returning officer, the role that runs its elections. She takes up the post in the coming months; no start date has been announced, and neither announcement publishes the salary.

Councillor Paul Follows, leader of the West Surrey Shadow Council, said: “As we continue to build the foundations of the new council, Susan’s experience, leadership and values will be invaluable.” He thanked Andy Brown, the interim head of paid service, for establishing “strong foundations for the new authority”.

Halliwell said: “It is a privilege to be appointed Chief Executive of West Surrey Council at such a significant moment. I look forward to working closely with councillors, colleagues and partners to build a council that listens to its communities.”

The new East Surrey Council, covering the other half of the county, appointed its own chief executive, Adam Chalmers, earlier in the summer (Surrey LGR Hub).

What it means for you

Nothing changes at the counter yet. Guildford Borough Council still runs bin collections, planning, housing and parking until 31 March 2027, and Surrey County Council still runs roads, schools and social care. From 1 April 2027 all of those services in this area answer to one organisation, and Halliwell is the official who will be accountable for making that switch work. Elections to the new council’s permanent membership follow; the shadow authority is currently made up of existing councillors.

Practical guides to the services that will transfer are in our local information section: bin collection days, council tax bands and planning applications.