Surrey County Council leader David Hodge is the first Surrey leader to be elected as the leader of the Conservative group Local Government Association (LGA).
The LGA represents nearly 400 councils in England and Wales, and it is considered one of the most influential positions in local government.
Hodge said: “I feel privileged and honoured to take on such an important responsibility. The issues we’re facing in Surrey are also being confronted by councils across the country and I’m determined to ensure they are firmly on the government’s agenda.
“That’s why I intend to spend my time in the role fighting to ensure councils get the resources they need to meet the growing demand on our services and making the case for devolution across the country.”
Along with his new role as the leader of LGA, the Surrey leader has also been installed as one of the LGA’s four vice chairs and the roles put him among the country’s most senior local politicians.
Earlier this month, Hodge, alongside other South East County Council leaders called for greater power to govern on a local level.
The County Councils, West Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey county, jointly sent a letter to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark, where they called for a meeting to discuss progress plans.
The letter said: “Together we can ensure that the right decisions are made in the right places to guarantee that the current contribution to our nation’s success and finances is not only continued but also expanded to the full potential it can reach.
“Our three counties are special places with a strong sense of identity and place. They are achieving the delicate and fundamental challenge of balancing strong growth and preserving a beautiful environment. However, their ability to sustain that crucial balance needs us all to work differently.”