Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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, Julia McShane, Carla Morson, George Potter and Fiona White were also Surrey County Councillors.

On 19 March the Monitoring Officer granted a general dispensation to all councillors to participate in and, where applicable, vote on the issue of the submission of any local government reorganisation proposal to the Secretary of State under the provisions of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

There were no other declarations of interest.

Decision:

1.        Executive supports the proposal to establish three unitary authorities in Surrey as set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Council as the preferred option, conditional upon two key factors: the resolution of the significant unsupported debt across the county and addressing discretionary spending concerns; and

2.        That the Leader of the Council will work with partners in Surrey to submit the proposal to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by 9 May 2025.

Reason(s):

1.        Government wrote to the Council on 5 February 2025 inviting all Councils in Surrey to submit an interim plan for Local Government Reorganisation by 21 March 2025 and a full proposal by 9 May 2025.

2.        The proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey attached as appendices to this report should be considered and that the Council recommends, and the Executive determines, which option provides the best opportunity to achieve better outcomes and value for residents, and improve accountability and economic growth, 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 Executive:

1.       Executive does not express a preference at this stage, noting that, as an authority affected by any order to be made by the Secretary of State, Guildford Borough Council will be consulted prior to the implementation of any proposal, or 

2.       Executive does not support either proposal and writes to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to confirm this and outline the reasons for this decision.

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

Councillors Angela Goodwin, Julia McShane, Carla Morson, George Potter and Fiona White were also Surrey County Councillors.

On 19 March the Monitoring Officer granted a general dispensation to all councillors to participate in and, where applicable, vote on the issue of the submission of any local government reorganisation proposal to the Secretary of State under the provisions of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

The meeting of the Executive was convened immediately following the meeting of full Council to consider the final response to Government in respect of the unitarisation of Surrey.

The Executive considered that Council had sent a clear mandate that the three unitary council proposal was the right option for residents.

The matter of the debt carried by all local authorities across the county must be a priority for Government and should not be resolved to the disadvantage of residents.

Members of the Executive spoke of best value and the financial credibility of the three council option. It was noted that to date engagement with residents had been constrained by the limitations of time, but where residents had expressed a view the popular choice had been the three council option.

The Executive,

RESOLVED:

1.        Executive supports the proposal to establish three unitary authorities in Surrey as set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Council as the preferred option, conditional upon two key factors: the resolution of the significant unsupported debt across the county and addressing discretionary spending concerns; and

2.        That the Leader of the Council will work with partners in Surrey to submit the proposal to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by 9 May 2025.

Reason(s):

1.        Government wrote to the Council on 5 February 2025 inviting all Councils in Surrey to submit an interim plan for Local Government Reorganisation by 21 March 2025 and a full proposal by 9 May 2025.

2.        The proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey attached as appendices to this report should be considered and that the Council recommends, and the Executive determines, which option provides the best opportunity to achieve better outcomes and value for residents, and improve accountability and economic growth, as well as unlocking the potential powers and funding to be devolved to strategic authorities in due course.