One of the strengths of district councils lies in the fact they are rooted in their localities, close to their communities and therefore arguably more able than bigger councils to understand the needs of their areas. Similarly, individual councillors have smaller patches to look after which can make it easier for them to build relationships with residents.

In Surrey we are beginning to have a grown-up conversation, without the distractions of reorganisation about which services should be commissioned and or delivered at pan-county level and those which it would make more sense for districts to deliver.