Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fiona White.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fiona White.

To receive from Members, declarations of interest in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Councillor Code of Conduct.

Councillors Angela Goodwin, George Potter, Carla Morson and Julia McShane were Surrey County Councillors. Dispensation had been awarded by the Monitoring Officer.

There were no declarations of interest.

Councillors Angela Goodwin, George Potter, Carla Morson and Julia McShane were Surrey County Councillors. Dispensation had been awarded by the Monitoring Officer.

There were no declarations of interest.

Decision:

1.       That, subject to the recommendation of the Council on 19 March 2025, Part A of Appendix 1, together with the proposals of the Districts and Boroughs for reorganisation of Surrey into three unitary authorities (as set out in Part B (i) of Appendix 1), be submitted by the Leader of the Council to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by 21 March 2025; and

2.       that the Executive authorise the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Chief Executive the authority to make minor amendments to the interim plan before submitting it on 21 March 2025.

Reason(s):

It is considered that the joint Interim Local Government Reorganisation Plan, attached at Appendix 1 to this report, provides the best opportunity to achieve better outcomes for residents, save significant money and improve accountability as well as unlocking the potential powers and funding to be devolved to strategic authorities in due course.

Other options considered and rejected by the Committee:

Part B (ii) – Draft Interim Local Government Reorganisation Plan for Surrey: authored by Surrey County Council.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

On 16 December 2024 the Government published its English Devolution White Paper. This outlined a very clear ambition for every area in England to move towards setting up a strategic authority, led by an elected mayor.  Surrey had the most ambitious timetable in which to achieve reorganisation. All leaders of local authorities across Surrey were invited to work together to develop a proposal for Local Government Reorganisation and submit an Interim Plan by 21 March 2025, followed by a full plan by 9 May 2025.

The interim plan proposal was considered by full Council on 19 March 2025 and determination of the proposal was undertaken by the Executive at this meeting following full Council.

The Executive thanked officers for their guidance and thanked all councillors who had spoken at the earlier full Council meeting for their thoughts and well-argued observations.

The Executive considered the message from full Council had been clear and that a proposal for three new unitary authorities in Surrey would provide efficient and effective local government that would serve residents well. Consequently, the Executive,

RESOLVED:

1.       That, subject to the recommendation of the Council on 19 March 2025, Part A of Appendix 1, together with the proposals of the Districts and Boroughs for reorganisation of Surrey into three unitary authorities (as set out in Part B (i) of Appendix 1), be submitted by the Leader of the Council to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by 21 March 2025; and

2.       that the Executive authorise the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Chief Executive the authority to make minor amendments to the interim plan before submitting it on 21 March 2025.

Reason(s):

It is considered that the joint Interim Local Government Reorganisation Plan, attached at Appendix 1 to this report, provides the best opportunity to achieve better outcomes for residents, save significant money and improve accountability as well as unlocking the potential powers and funding to be devolved to strategic authorities in due course.