Councillors and committees

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Surrey County Council, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey ,RH2 8EF

Contact: Huma Younis or Andre Ferreira  Email: huma.younis@surreycc.gov.uk

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72/23

Apologies for Absence

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    Decision:

    Apologies were received from Clare Curran, Paul Deach and Marisa Heath.

    Minutes:

    Apologies were received from Clare Curran, Paul Deach and Marisa Heath.

73/23

Minutes of Previous Meeting: 25 APRIL 2023 pdf icon PDF 331 KB

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    Decision:

    These were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.

     

    Minutes:

    These were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.

     

74/23

Declarations of Interest

75/23

Procedural Matters

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75/231

Members' Questions

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    Decision:

    There were no Member questions.

    Minutes:

    There were no Member questions.

76/23

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 451 KB

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    Decision:

    There were six public questions. The questions and responses were published in a supplement to the agenda.

     

    Minutes:

    There were six public questions. The questions and responses were published in a supplement to the agenda.

     

    With regards to her main question, Anna Sutherland asked that if Surrey SEND decision making panels were making legally compliant decisions then why were the independent SEND tribunals finding in favour of families in the majority of cases. The Leader agreed for a written response to be sent to the questioner in the absence of the Cabinet Member for Education and Learning.

     

    A supplementary question was asked on behalf of Louise Gannon. The question was when would the Cabinet Member for Education and Learning, Executive Director for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning and Director of Education and Lifelong Learning be willing to sit down with parents and engage with them on the ongoing and historical problems associated with the SEND department. The Leader agreed for a written response to be sent to the questioner in the absence of the Cabinet Member for Education and Learning.

     

    With regards to his question Colin Pugh stated that despite all his complaints, the intervention of his local member, having to issue court proceedings and then finally for the council to realise its errors and apologise profusely, did the Cabinet consider this to be good service despite his son still not having provision for a post 16 school place. The Leader agreed for a written response to be sent to the questioner as soon as possible.

     

     

     

     

     

77/23

Petitions

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    Decision:

    There were none.

78/23

Representations received on reports to be considered in private

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    Decision:

    There were none.

79/23

Reports from Select Committees , Task Groups, Local Committees and other Committees of the Council

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    Decision:

    There were none.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

80/23

Leader / Deputy Leader / Cabinet Member/ Strategic Investment Board Decisions Taken Since the Last Cabinet Meeting pdf icon PDF 125 KB

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    Decision:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the decisions taken since the last Cabinet meeting be noted.

     

    Minutes:

    There were five decisions for noting.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the decisions taken since the last Cabinet meeting be noted.

     

81/23

Cabinet Member of the Month pdf icon PDF 295 KB

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    Decision:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the Cabinet Member of the Month update be noted.

     

    Minutes:

    The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources provided the Cabinet with an update on the work he and the services he supports had been undertaking. The following key points were raised:

     

    ·         The Cabinet Member stated that given both the pressures that we face and the large increase in demand for the services we provide, to end the financial year with a slight surplus in our revenue budget was a positive outcome. The council was able to produce a balanced budget which protects the delivery of our frontline services whilst limiting the Council tax increase to 2.99%.

    ·         As far as the capital budget was concerned, there was a £12 million underspend against the reset budget. The service was looking to see how the council can improve forecasts for complex capital schemes.

    ·         The Cabinet Member was a board member of the Additional Needs and Disability Transformation Board and explained that a large amount of work had gone into delivering the DSG high needs block safety valve agreement which was on track.

    ·         My Surrey, which is the enterprise resource planning system and will replace the existing SAP system would be going live at the beginning of June. The Cabinet Member thanked all staff who had worked really hard and tirelessly to get the project to this stage.

    ·         The council’s internal audit plan was on track however it was disappointing that the 2021/22 statement of accounts remain unsigned by Grant Thornton due to a national issues. It was explained that the council’s external auditors would change to Ernst and Young from this financial year onwards.

    ·         The Cabinet member was responsible for a busy portfolio that cut across all the Council's activities and thanked and acknowledged the hard work of staff.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the Cabinet Member of the Month update be noted.

     

82/23

SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL'S ADOPTION OF THE REVISED SURREY AGREED SYLLABUS FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION pdf icon PDF 369 KB

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    Decision:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.    That Cabinet formally adopts the 2023 revised Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Surrey.  

    Reasons for Decisions:

     

    There have been a number of changes in curriculum delivery, content and in guidance from the Department of Education since the existing syllabus was adopted in 2017, meaning it was no longer fit for purpose. The revision period has enabled a comprehensive engagement including the adoption of the recommendations from Ofsted in relation to curriculum design, set out as follows:

     

    ·         It should be sequenced in such a way that the ‘curriculum is the progression model’ 

    ·         It should help pupils to make connections across their learning, build strong schemata. 

    ·         It should set out what it means to get better at RE in substantive, disciplinary and personal knowledge, across ages and stages of development. 

     

    There has been a complete review of the content by qualified teachers and the Advisor to the Surrey SACRE, and the revised syllabus can now be recommended to the Cabinet for teacher training and implementation from September 2023 and first teaching from September 2024.The action being proposed will have benefits for the residents of Surrey in as much as teachers will be able to begin a new academic year by teaching a more relevant RE curriculum that complies with national guidance, prepares young people well for examination courses in RE, and more accurately reflects the values and beliefs of citizens in this country. 

     

    (The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee)

    Minutes:

    The report was introduced by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Community Safety who explained that the agreed syllabus for religious education had been agreed by Surrey SACRE. The syllabus had been reviewed by qualified teachers and the advisor to Surrey SACRE. There had been positive changes to the syllabus meaning the new syllabus was more relevant and compliant with good practice in RE teaching across England. The agreed syllabus for RE would be introduced in maintained and voluntary controlled schools from the September 2023 for teacher training and taught from September 2024. The Leader highlighted that there had been wide consultation with the diocese and schools.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.    That Cabinet formally adopts the 2023 revised Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Surrey.

    Reasons for Decisions:

     

    There have been a number of changes in curriculum delivery, content and in guidance from the Department of Education since the existing syllabus was adopted in 2017, meaning it was no longer fit for purpose. The revision period has enabled a comprehensive engagement including the adoption of the recommendations from Ofsted in relation to curriculum design, set out as follows:

     

    ·         It should be sequenced in such a way that the ‘curriculum is the progression model’ 

    ·         It should help pupils to make connections across their learning, build strong schemata. 

    ·         It should set out what it means to get better at RE in substantive, disciplinary and personal knowledge, across ages and stages of development. 

     

    There has been a complete review of the content by qualified teachers and the Advisor to the Surrey SACRE, and the revised syllabus can now be recommended to the Cabinet for teacher training and implementation from September 2023 and first teaching from September 2024.The action being proposed will have benefits for the residents of Surrey in as much as teachers will be able to begin a new academic year by teaching a more relevant RE curriculum that complies with national guidance, prepares young people well for examination courses in RE, and more accurately reflects the values and beliefs of citizens in this country. 

     

    (The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee)

83/23

2022/23 OUTTURN FINANCIAL REPORT pdf icon PDF 521 KB

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    Decision:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.    That Cabinet note the Council’s revenue and capital positions for the year.

    2.    That Cabinet approve the contribution of the £0.7m residual surplus to the General Fund Balance, maintaining the balance at c4.5% of the net revenue budget.

    3.    That Cabinet approve a reserve contribution of £10.5m to the Budget Equalisation Reserve in relation to additional Business Rate Grant received late in the financial year. This is based on anticipated deficits in Borough and Districts collection funds relating to Government reliefs granted for retail and hospitality sectors during the pandemic (paragraph 28).

    4.    That Cabinet approve capital carry forwards of £11.2m, consisting of £18.3m of slippage offset by £7.1m of accelerated spend.  Of the slippage, £14.2m is requested to be carried forward into the 23/24 capital programme, with the remaining £4.1m in 2024/25 (paragraph 46 - 47)

    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 Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources who explained that the report set out the council's 2022/2023 financial performance for revenue and capital including the year end, treasury management and debt outturn position. It was explained that the £20m contingency that had been built into the budget had been used. The council had also achieved £27.5m of the £46.8m target of efficiencies set out at the beginning of the financial year, including those delivered through transformation programmes. The Cabinet Member provided the Cabinet with an update on the budgets of each of the council’s services including revenue and capital budgets. The Cabinet Member stated that despite the financial year featuring some of the most severe pressures faced for many years, the council had achieved a £0.7m surplus outturn for the year.   

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.    That Cabinet note the Council’s revenue and capital positions for the year.

    2.    That Cabinet approve the contribution of the £0.7m residual surplus to the General Fund Balance, maintaining the balance at c4.5% of the net revenue budget.

    3.    That Cabinet approve a reserve contribution of £10.5m to the Budget Equalisation Reserve in relation to additional Business Rate Grant received late in the financial year. This is based on anticipated deficits in Borough and Districts collection funds relating to Government reliefs granted for retail and hospitality sectors during the pandemic (paragraph 28).

    4.    That Cabinet approve capital carry forwards of £11.2m, consisting of £18.3m of slippage offset by £7.1m of accelerated spend.  Of the slippage, £14.2m is requested to be carried forward into the 23/24 capital programme, with the remaining £4.1m in 2024/25 (paragraph 46 - 47)

    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)

84/23

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

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    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.

     

85/23

OPTIONS APPRAISAL ON THE PROVISION OF FINANCE TRADED SERVICES TO SCHOOLS

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    Decision:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1. That Cabinet agree to proceed with Option B as described in the Part 2 report.

     

    Reasons for Decisions:

     

    See Exempt Minute [E-07-23]

     

    (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)

     

     

    Minutes:

    The 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 4: ‘Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.’

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1. That Cabinet agree to proceed with Option B as described in the Part 2 report.

     

    Reasons for Decisions:

     

    See Exempt Minute [E-07-23]

     

    (The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)

     

     

86/23

PUBLICITY FOR PART 2 ITEMS

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    Minutes:

    It was agreed that non-exempt information may be made available to the press and public, where appropriate.