Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 187 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8EF
Contact: Amelia Christopher Email: amelia.christopher@surreycc.gov.uk
Media
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
The Chair to report apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Liz Bowes, Chris Farr, Marisa Heath, David Lewis (Camberley West), Andy Lynch (remote), Michaela Martin (remote), Rebecca Paul, Becky Rush, Joanne Sexton, Lesley Steeds, Mark Sugden.
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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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ENGLISH DEVOLUTION WHITE PAPER
This report outlines the opportunities arising from the English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December 2024, and the requirements on Surrey County Council set out in a letter sent to the Leader of the Council from the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution on the same day (see Annex 1).
The Council is asked to note that the Leader intends to respond to the Minister expressing the council's interest in pursuing a joint programme of devolution and local government reorganisation (Annex 2), and that acceptance onto the government’s programme to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe may lead to the postponement of the 2025 county council elections. Council is also asked to note that the decision to respond to the letter of 16 December 2024 is an Executive function. Additional documents: Minutes: The Monitoring Officer set out the legal position in respect of the Council’s role.She noted that the responsibility to respond to the letter from the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution dated 16 December 2024 and the White Paper, was the Leader and the Cabinet’s as set out in the Local Government 2000, the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000 and Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution.Regarding the May 2025 county elections, she clarified that the Secretary of State had the powers to postpone or change the year of the election, the Council does not have those powers.
The Leader noted that he tabled the report to the Council to enable Members to express their views. The Government sought to have universal coverage of Strategic Authorities and would legislate accordingly. The main issue concerned what was in residents’ best interests, a greater understanding was needed of the benefits that mayoral devolution might bring. Devolution would enable policies to be tailored to local situations and decisions to be made by those who know the area best, communities would have a greater say. The White Paper outlined that the most powers would be granted to mayors and a long-term investment fund would be available. Mayoral Strategic Authorities would happen so it was crucial to engage early with the Government. Residents would be consulted on how Surrey’s twelve local authorities should be reorganised and he would request that the Government writes off the debt faced by some of Surrey’s district and borough councils.
The Leader noted that at yesterday’s meeting with the leaders of Surrey’s district and borough councils, there was agreement that unitarisation would happen and they agreed to set up a cross-party steering group to work on the interim submission that all two-tier councils need to make to the Government by March 2025. The Minister indicated in his letter that he would lay secondary legislation to postpone local elections and securing a place on the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme would provide clarity. The response to the White Paper was an Executive function, the Extraordinary Cabinet meeting would reflect on the points made before making a decision. More could be secured for residents through cross-party and stakeholder engagement, to shape a solution rather than a solution being imposed on Surrey.
Members made the following comments:
· Noted that the leaders of Surrey’s district and borough councils met with the Leader yesterday and issued a joint statement agreeing that local government reform was necessary and accepted that a form of unitary council combination would make sense. · However the haste and lack of a plan was concerning, the Government was not asking two-tier councils to cancel elections. Everything the Leader was suggesting could happen whilst holding the May 2025 county elections. · Queried what the benefits were of acting hastily, defined intervention on debt and Adult Social Care were needed. · Called for change to the structure of local government and its funding, the demand for children’s and adults’ social ... view the full minutes text for item 3/25 |