Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 422 KBVenue: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey ,RH2 8EF
Contact: Vicky Hibbert or Huma Younis Email: huma.younis@surreycc.gov.uk
Media
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Apologies for Absence
To note any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Natalie Bramhall, Kevin Deanus and Mark Nuti. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting: 26 April 2022
To agree the minutes of the last meeting as a correct record of the meeting.
Additional documents: Decision:
These were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.
Minutes: These were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.
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Declarations of Interest
All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter:
(i) Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or (ii) Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting NOTES:
· Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest · As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner) · Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none.
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Procedural Matters
Additional documents: |
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The deadline for Member’s questions is 12pm four working days before the meeting (25 May 2022).
Additional documents: Minutes: There were two member questions. The questions and responses were published as a supplement to the agenda.
Catherine Baart asked a supplementary question in relation to her original questions. The first was why there was a delay to the consultation for the two junctions in her division which would be commencing in 2024 and the second was if the indicative concept completion date for the Local Cycling and Walking Plans (LCWIP) was the same as the publication dates. The Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy explained that there was no delay with the consultation phase. The project had a number of stages which required completion and would take some time, some land assembly issues would require Secretary of State sign off. The Reigate and Banstead LCWIP had been completed and was now moving to the implementation phase. Government funding had been received for some of the schemes already.
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The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (24 May 2022).
Additional documents: Minutes: There was one public question. The question and response was published as a supplement to the agenda. The following supplementary question was asked, do you agree that the Surrey Minerals Plan 2011 is a local development document and, if so, could you please state when, since 2011, the Plan was reviewed under The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, which require a review to be completed every five years, and explain why a review is not therefore being completed immediately and urgently, as a statutory requirement, and to take account of the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. The Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy explained that a refresh was done on the Surrey Mineral Plan a few years ago. The Surrey Minerals and Waste Plan was a new document bringing together both parts of the policies the county council was responsible for and would help tackle climate change. Flexibility was required in plan creation as this was a wide ranging document that required consultation with various stakeholders.
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Petitions
The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.
Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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Representations received on reports to be considered in private
To consider any representations received in relation why part of the meeting relating to a report circulated in Part 2 of the agenda should be open to the public. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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To consider any reports from Select Committees, Task Groups, Local Committees and any other Committees of the Council.
Cabinet is asked to consider:
A. Report on the Care Leavers Service (Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee). Additional documents: Minutes: The care leavers report was briefly introduced by the Chairman of the Select Committee. It was explained that on 7 April 2022, the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee took evidence from the Cabinet Member for Children and Families and senior officers regarding the Care Leavers service, in response to an Ofsted monitoring visit in September 2021. The Chairman explained that a recommendation that the corporate parenting service work with the Council's Greener Futures team to understand the energy efficiency of current care leavers accommodation had been agreed. The report was welcomed by the Cabinet Member for Children and Families who stated that it was good to hear about the work the Select Committee had done to look into the outcomes and the wellbeing of care leavers and the steps that the service was taking to improve the lives of vulnerable young adults.
RESOLVED:
That the report from the Select Committee regarding the Care Leavers Service be noted. The response from the Cabinet was published as a supplement to the agenda.
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To note any delegated decisions taken by the Leader, Deputy Leader, Cabinet Members, Strategic Investment Board and Committees in Common Sub-Committee since the last meeting of the Cabinet. Additional documents: Decision: That the decisions taken since the last Cabinet meeting be noted.
Minutes: There were nine decisions for noting.
RESOLVED:
That the decisions taken since the last Cabinet meeting be noted.
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The Surrey Transport Plan (Fourth Edition) - Adoption
The purpose of this report is to inform Cabinet on the outcomes of the statutory public consultation process and subsequent additional engagement to support the new Surrey Transport Plan, to be referred to as the fourth Local Transport Plan (LTP4). To seek approval to adopt and publish the plan, and to retain the Member Reference Group to steer further development of the Plan and refine policies to help deliver the plan. The final decision on the Local Transport Plan 4 is to be made by Council in accordance with the authority’s legislation.
(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)
Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED:
1. That Cabinet notes the efforts that have gone into extending the engagement with communities and partners over the new Surrey Transport Plan including analysis and feedback received from the statutory public consultation and subsequent additional targeted engagement.?
Reasons for Decisions: The recommendations will enable the new Surrey Transport Plan (LTP4) to be adopted thereby enabling new policies and measures to develop and deliver safe, cleaner, greener ways of travelling and accessing services and opportunities in the future. This will help to deliver significant reduction in carbon emissions from the transport sector to deliver net zero carbon by 2050, as set out in the Climate Change Strategy agreed by Cabinet in May 2020, and the Climate Change Delivery Programme agreed by Cabinet in October 2021. The Plan provides a step change in how transport services and its infrastructure are planned, delivered, maintained, and used. This will need the Council, partner organisations, businesses, and all of Surrey’s residents to work together to make changes in when, where, and how they choose to travel, including the adoption of digital opportunities. The plan sets out a framework to develop these new policies, strategies, and measures to establish and embed active and sustainable travel behaviours and promote the uptake of technology such as electric and hydrogen powered vehicles, to meet the challenge of achieving the county’s target of net zero carbon by 2050. The plan also supports the importance of ensuring that our transport policies and networks enable a prosperous economy and healthier, better, connected communities, ensuring that no one is left behind. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)
Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy introduced the report explaining that the purpose of the item was to inform Cabinet on the outcomes of the statutory public consultation process and subsequent additional engagement to support the new Surrey Transport Plan, to be referred to as the fourth Local Transport Plan (LTP4). Cabinet was being asked to adopt and publish the plan as well as retain the Member Reference Group to steer further development and refine policies that will help deliver the plan itself. The final decision on LTP4 would be made by Council later on in the year. The Transport Plan sets out the Council’s transformational and ambitious roadmap to deliver the required carbon reduction targets set out in the Climate Change Delivery Plan, for the transport sector, whilst supporting the county’s communities and economy to thrive and ensure no one is left behind.
Jonathan Essex spoke on the item stating that it was positive to see that there was now over 80% support evidenced for the proposed approach set out and asked what the current level of investment is for extending the frequency and the reliability for the number of buses across Surrey. The Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy stated that £49m had been invested into low emission buses of electric and hydrogen and as part of this, a third of the most polluting buses off the network would be removed. At a previous Cabinet the purchase of 32 new hydrogen buses which would run in the east of the county had been agreed. £9 million had been set aside in delivering pinch point relief and in Mole Valley the Surrey Connect service, which is electric minibuses which work in an Uber style had been launched to reduce car journeys.
Catherine Baart spoke on the positivity of the plan but argued that the plan could not be fully implemented without central government changing policy which would therefore require government lobbying. She queried what the council would be doing to include members and recruit residents to the lobbying campaign. The Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy explained that one of the risks identified had been any planning policies that were introduced by the government, which were not consistent with net zero targets and that did not make it cheaper for low carbon transport focus units. This had not been proposed but was identified as a potential risk. If this was proposed by the government, the council would need to have a strong lobbying campaign to counter this.
The Leader added that it was important for the council to invest in other forms of public transport and agreed that the Mole Valley pilot was an excellent solution. £10m of subsidies had already been put into the bus service and work with operators needed to be undertaken to find ways in which routes could be made more commercial and then the subsidy used more effectively.
RESOLVED:
1. That Cabinet notes the efforts that have gone into ... view the full minutes text for item 92/22 |
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Minerals and Waste Development Scheme
The purpose of this report is to seek agreement of Cabinet to an extension to the timetable in which the Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP) is to be prepared. The extension proposed will necessarily involve material amendments to the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme (MWDS) previously approved in July 2021.
(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)
Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED:
Reasons for Decisions:
Surrey County Council, as the County Planning Authority, is required by law to prepare and maintain an up-to-date Minerals and Waste Development Scheme. Officers propose to update the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme to extend the timetable in which the Minerals and Waste Local Plan is to be prepared. This extension of time is necessary to accommodate the complexity and range of technical work necessary to prepare a sound local development plan; extensive and meaningful engagement with stakeholders; and anticipated changes to Government policy, guidance, legislation, and regulations and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty boundary during the plan-preparation period. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)
Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy introduced the report explaining that the report sought agreement of an extension to the timetable in which the Minerals and Waste local plan be prepared. The extension would involve material amendments to the Mineral and Waste Development Scheme, previously approved in July 2021. This would result in the delay of the adoption of the Mineral and Waste Plan by no more than 12 months.
RESOLVED:
Reasons for Decisions:
Surrey County Council, as the County Planning Authority, is required by law to prepare and maintain an up-to-date Minerals and Waste Development Scheme. Officers propose to update the Minerals and Waste Development Scheme to extend the timetable in which the Minerals and Waste Local Plan is to be prepared. This extension of time is necessary to accommodate the complexity and range of technical work necessary to prepare a sound local development plan; extensive and meaningful engagement with stakeholders; and anticipated changes to Government policy, guidance, legislation, and regulations and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty boundary during the plan-preparation period. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)
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Surrey Infrastructure Plan - Phase 2 Schemes
This report recommends the approval of a second phase of schemes to be implemented, highlights additional schemes requiring further development and provides a brief update on the status in the first phase which were approved by Cabinet in October 2021.
(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)
Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED:
Reasons for Decisions:
The recommendations will enable the development and delivery of infrastructure schemes that meet a wide range of outcomes and demonstrate deliverability and affordability. They enable the implementation of the second phase of schemes and the development of a continuous pipeline of schemes that require further feasibility work. The process is intended to remain dynamic with new schemes added to the long list as they are identified. A continuous programme of schemes will be developed taking them from concept through to delivery identifying suitable funding opportunities as they progress. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)
Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy explained that the report recommends the approval of a second phase of schemes to be implemented, highlights additional schemes requiring further development and provides a brief update on the status in the first phase which were approved by Cabinet in October 2021. Following October 2021, the partners involved in the development of the Surrey Place Ambition 2050 were consulted and the assessment of the projects shared. This included all 11 Districts and Boroughs (D&Bs), both Local Economic Partnerships and the Surrey Wildlife Trust. Other parties including Network Rail, Homes England and National Highways were informed along with neighbouring authorities where there were schemes crossing the boundary. Engagement with partners led to the conclusion that this should be an ongoing, dynamic process. Through the development of the Surrey Infrastructure Plan over 100 infrastructure schemes had been identified by the council and partners, with the majority in that transports and highways category. The Cabinet Member briefed members on each of the schemes contained in the Phase 2 projects.
The Deputy Cabinet Member for Levelling- Up welcomed the report and in particular the Tadworth Flood Reduction Programme which would positively impact the lives of many residents in the local area. Members welcomed the schemes and the change it would bring for residents. A number of the schemes would tackle long term infrastructure issues.
RESOLVED:
Reasons for Decisions:
The recommendations will enable the development and delivery of infrastructure schemes that meet a wide range of outcomes and demonstrate deliverability and affordability. They enable the implementation of the second phase of schemes and the development of a continuous pipeline of schemes that require further feasibility work. The process is intended to remain dynamic with new schemes added to the long list as they are identified. A continuous programme of schemes will be developed taking them from concept through to delivery identifying suitable funding opportunities as they progress. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)
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WAN & Wi-Fi Service: Digital Infrastructure Step-Change
Cabinet is asked to approve the use of the South East Grid (SEG) Network Services Framework as a route to market to procure new WAN and Wi-Fi services, and to approve the capital investment of £8.23m to provide gigabit capable connectivity to all Council sites.
NB: There is a Part 2 report at Item 13.
(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee) Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED:
Reasons for Decisions:
The procurement of new WAN and Wi-Fi services will meet the operational needs of the Council for the next 10-15 years and provides the opportunity to support collaboration and service delivery with health and local government partners. The implementation of new WAN and Wi-Fi services supports the community vision for Surrey in 2030 in several areas including “well-connected communities with effective infrastructure that grow sustainably”, by accelerating the availability of digital networks to residents and businesses in Surrey. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)
Minutes: The report was introduced by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources who explained that the SCC BT Unicorn services contract, which provides critical Wide Area Network (WAN) and Wi-Fi services to Council sites, expires in August 2024. Cabinet was being asked to approve the use of the South East Grid (SEG) Network Services Framework as a route to market to procure new WAN and Wi-Fi services, and to approve the capital investment of £8.23m to provide gigabit capable connectivity to all Council sites. This procurement would meet the operational needs of the Council for the next 10 to 15 years and provide the opportunity to support collaboration and service delivery with health and local government partners.
RESOLVED:
Reasons for Decisions:
The procurement of new WAN and Wi-Fi services will meet the operational needs of the Council for the next 10-15 years and provides the opportunity to support collaboration and service delivery with health and local government partners. The implementation of new WAN and Wi-Fi services supports the community vision for Surrey in 2030 in several areas including “well-connected communities with effective infrastructure that grow sustainably”, by accelerating the availability of digital networks to residents and businesses in Surrey. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)
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2021/22 Outturn Financial Report
This report sets out Surrey County Council’s 2021/22 financial performance for revenue and capital, including the year end Treasury Management and debt outturn position.
(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee) Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED:
1. That Cabinet note the Council’s revenue and capital positions for the year. 2. That Cabinet approve the following transfers to reserves planned as part of the revenue budget and included in the outturn position: · £2.6m unspent transformation funding to be transferred to the Transformation Reserve to fund future transformation ambitions and mitigate risks associated with delivering transformation in future years. · £19.5m of 2021/22 contingency budget to the General Fund Reserve to improve financial resilience and the Council’s ability to mitigate future funding uncertainty, significant service pressures and increased global economic volatility. · £0.5m to the Budget Equalisation Reserve to be utilised early in 2022/23 for specific payments, as set out in paragraph 12. 3. That Cabinet note that the remaining £1m surplus will also be added to the General Fund Balance to further improve our financial resilience. Recommendations relating to additional 2022/23 funding: 4. That Cabinet delegate future decisions on the allocation of emergency funding announced by Government to support vulnerable residents to the Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director of Resources and other relevant Executive Directors in consultation with the Leader and other relevant Cabinet Members, as appropriate. This will enable timely allocation of funding for vulnerable residents, such as the Household Support Grant and funding for Ukraine refugees, in accordance with associated funding conditions. 5. That Cabinet confirms that the following increased/additional grants will be allocated in full to the Public Health service budget to be spent in accordance with relevant grant conditions: · £1.1m increase to Surrey’s Public Health grant to meet identified commissioning, contract and pay inflation pressures. · £3m recently announced new Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery grant to support improvements in the quality and capacity of drug and alcohol treatment for the years 2022/23 to 2024/25. · £0.1m per annum new In-patient Detoxification Grant Reasons for Decisions:
This report is to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for approval of any necessary actions. (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)
Minutes: The report was introduced by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources who explained that this report set out Surrey County Council’s 2021/22 financial performance for revenue and capital, including the year end Treasury Management and debt outturn position. The Council had achieved a £1.0m surplus outturn for the year without the need to rely on reserves, despite the extraordinary impact of Covid-19. This was despite the impact of COVID-19, which had a financial cost of the Council of £99.4m which was funded by a combination of specific funding (£75.7m) and general emergency funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) (£23.7m). This was a good financial outcome for the Council and the result of hard work from within directorates to deliver their services within budget and a culture of financial management and control set throughout the Council. The Deputy Leader provided the Cabinet with some context for the 2022/23 budget explaining there would be some challenges on the horizon.
The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health welcomed the £3m supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery grant to support improvements in the quality and capacity of drug and alcohol treatment for the years 2022/23 to 2024/25 which would be allocated to the Public Health service. Will Forster raised concerns around the transformation programme and the efficiency targets achieved which were only 54% of the target. He asked for reassurance from the Cabinet Member that future efficiencies could be achieved. The Deputy Leader stated that covid had thrown up a number of challenges in delivering efficiencies but felt confident that targets could be achieved for the current financial year. The Leader added that the transformation programmes had been reviewed with a number removed to ensure the council was concentrating on the most important and would be picking up pace going forward.
RESOLVED:
1. That Cabinet note the Council’s revenue and capital positions for the year. 2. That Cabinet approve the following transfers to reserves planned as part of the revenue budget and included in the outturn position: · £2.6m unspent transformation funding to be transferred to the Transformation Reserve to fund future transformation ambitions and mitigate risks associated with delivering transformation in future years. · £19.5m of 2021/22 contingency budget to the General Fund Reserve to improve financial resilience and the Council’s ability to mitigate future funding uncertainty, significant service pressures and increased global economic volatility. · £0.5m to the Budget Equalisation Reserve to be utilised early in 2022/23 for specific payments, as set out in paragraph 12. 3. That Cabinet note that the remaining £1m surplus will also be added to the General Fund Balance to further improve our financial resilience. Recommendations relating to additional 2022/23 funding: 4. That Cabinet delegate future decisions on the allocation of emergency funding announced by Government to support vulnerable residents to the Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director of Resources and other relevant Executive Directors in consultation with the Leader and other relevant Cabinet Members, as appropriate. This will enable timely allocation of ... view the full minutes text for item 96/22 |
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EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information under the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act. Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information under the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.
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WAN & Wi-Fi Service: Digital Infrastructure Step-Change
This Part 2 report contains information which is exempt from Access to Information requirements by virtue of Paragraph 3: information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)
Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED:
See Minute 95/22
Reasons for Decisions:
See Minute 95/22
(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)
Minutes: The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources introduced the Part 2 report which contained information which was exempt from Access to Information requirements by virtue of Paragraph 3: information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
RESOLVED:
See Minute 95/22
Reasons for Decisions:
See Minute 95/22
(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)
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PUBLICITY FOR PART 2 ITEMS
To consider whether the item considered under Part 2 of the agenda should be made available to the Press and public. Additional documents: Minutes: It was agreed that non-exempt information may be made available to the press and public, where appropriate. |