Decisions

Alternative provision supports a broad range of needs and consists of a wide supplier base, including Pupil Referral Units (PRU), alternative provision academies and free schools, independent schools and unregistered suppliers. Alternative provision schools also include a small number of medical and hospital schools. These play an important specialist role in supporting children and young people whose health prevents them from attending a mainstream school, re-engaging them in education as much as their health allows, and providing a supported transition back to mainstream school when appropriate. Many children and young people in alternative provision have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Alternative provision will be expected to offer individually tailored learning and/or support.

In developing this DPS, SCC wishes to move to a whole system approach to alternative provision where inclusive schools, clear pathways and outstanding provision all work together to ensure excellent outcomes for children and young people. SCC wishes promoting a collective system in which educational settings, community services, health and education support services all play a crucial part in responding to vulnerable children and assisting with reintegration to school (where appropriate). Suppliers successful in joining the AP DPS will play a vital role in creating a “community” of provision.

It was AGREED that:

1. Contracts are awarded to the successful suppliers listed below, covering 44 services, for Round 3 of the DPS:

2. Any future Mini-Competitions run under the DPS for SCC or on behalf of Schools will be subject to a Procurement Report Part 1 and Part 2 approval.

3. Any Direct Awards under the DPS will require approval which will be delegated to the relevant officer as per the PCSO’s based on the value of the direct award.

4. Schools utilising the DPS will be responsible for their own direct award contracts and will be required to update SCC of these.

The Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth:

1.      Approved the lists of schemes in Annexes 1 to 4 for delivery beginning in the financial year 2025/26. The schemes would reduce road casualties, tackle speeding, and make walking, push scooting and cycling to school safer and more attractive. These would be delivered using the budgets for the next two years 2025/26 - 2026/27 as set out in the most recent Medium Term Financial Strategy, as follows:

·      £1.0 million 20 mph Speed Limit Programme

·      £1.2 million Road Safety Outside Schools Investment Programme

·      £0.4 million Road Safety Speed Management Schemes

·      £0.9 million Road Safey Schemes

·      £1.3 million Department of Transport Safer Roads Fund

2.     Agreed that changes to schemes and changes to the programme within the approved budget amount be delegated to the Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, ensuring that Divisional Members for such schemes were informed. Decisions on schemes for implementation beyond 2026/27 would be for the new local authorities to decide upon following the outcome of the Local Government Review.

The Cabinet Member for Customer and Communities:

1.     Agreed to fund the full amount requested of £412,400 (52%), comprised of:

·      £412,400 of capital funding towards the development of the annexe to be paid in staged payments, on evidence of spend

·      Including 5% to be held by SCC until final evidence of income, expenditure, building control sign-off and completion report provided

2.     Authorised Legal Services to seal the Funding Agreement

The Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure:

1.     Declared the parcels known as land west of Stanwell Gardens and Russell Drive, Stanwell, Staines, as formally surplus to operational requirements (and agreed this in conjunction with the Leader and Deputy Leader as required under Standing Orders).

2.      Approved the sale of garden land specifically at No 17, Russell Drive on the terms reported in the part 2 report and,  

3.      Delegated authority to the Executive Director for Environment Property and Growth with the Director of Land and Property to secure best value from future releases.

See Minute 21/25.

RESOLVED:

The Strategic Investment Board formally noted the following decisions taken by SHIP:

1.    To accept the resignation of the Managing Director (MD). The MD is expected to leave Hendeca by 30 May 2025.

2.    To appoint an Interim MD from within the Council’s current staff.

3.    To appoint a Board Director from within the Council’s current staff.

4.    To allocate resource from the Council’s People and Change team to support the Interim MD in managing the staff consultation process that was previously directed by the Shareholder Investment Panel (SHIP) to proceed.

Reasons for Decisions:

·         To ensure the company’s operations and administration can continue to function effectively.

·         To ensure the company’s Board can be quorate, fulfil its legal duties and take necessary decisions in supporting the MD in the administration of the company

·         Take the legally required steps in commencing staff consultation on the future of the company.

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

These were agreed.

RESOLVED:

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

2.    That Cabinet approves the contribution of the £6.3m surplus to the Budget Equalisation Reserve as follows and as set out in paragraph 9:

·         £3m, ringfenced for the Place Directorate, to cover the cost of Highways remedial action, including the Godstone sink hole and other emergency works.

·         £3.3m to provide financial resilience and mitigate against other emerging risks in 2025/26.

3.    That Cabinet approves capital carry forwards of £56.6m.  £53.9m is requested to be carried forward into the 2025/26 capital programme, with the remaining £2.7m in 2026/27.

Reasons for Decisions:

This report is to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for information and for approval of any necessary actions.

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

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet agrees to fund the full amount requested of £700,000 (out of a total project cost of £1,540,000) comprised of:

·         £700,000 of capital funding  towards the development of the village hall, dependent on the remaining funding being confirmed, and to be paid in staged payments, on evidence of spend

·         Including 5% to be held by SCC until final evidence of income, expenditure, building control sign-off and completion report provided.

2.    That Cabinet authorises Legal Services to seal the Funding Agreement.

Reasons for Decisions:

This application has been the subject of a rigorous assessment process by officers, as set out in the body of this report. Officers consider the project to meet the aims and published criteria of the fund and to satisfy the requirements to award funding.

The Shamley Green Village Hall Redevelopment project aims to redevelop the existing community hall into a community hub for the village, delivering increased benefits to the whole local community, addressing the lack of accessibility and increasing the hall’s sustainability.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)

RESOLVED:

1.      That Cabinet agrees to fund £850,000 (out of a total project cost of £1,620,000) comprised of: 

·           £850,000 of capital funding towards the development of a new community space, dependent on the remaining funding being confirmed, and to be paid in staged payments, on evidence of spend

·           Including 5% to be held by SCC until final evidence of income, expenditure, building control sign-off and completion report provided

2.      That Cabinet authorises Legal Services to seal the Funding Agreement.

Reasons for Decisions:

This application has been the subject of a rigorous assessment process by officers, as set out in the body of this report. Officers consider the project to meet the aims and published criteria of the fund and to satisfy the requirements to award funding.

The project aims to extend the building with a new atrium, turning it into a welcoming and functional space to be used as a vibrant community hub for residents and is located in an identified Surrey County Council Key Neighbourhood.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee)

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet approves proceeding with the tender to secure development agreements for four identified council-owned sites to deliver housing, including units allocated to Adult Social Care for people with mental health needs, on a basis that fully funds the council’s capital expenditure.

2.    That Cabinet notes the four sites are as follows: 

a)    Chalkmead, Deans Road, Merstham RH1 3HE

b)    Keswick, Eastwick Park Avenue, Great Bookham KT23 3ND

c)    Longfield, Killicks, Cranleigh GU6 7BB   

d)    Meadowside, Knowle Park Avenue, Staines TW18 1AN

3.    That Cabinet approves delegated responsibility to agree the terms of the land transaction(s) (freehold or leasehold disposals), corresponding development agreement and associated legal documentation to the Executive Director for Environment, Property & Growth in consultation with Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care and Property, Infrastructure and Waste. The final agreements must ensure there is an appropriate return for the use of the council’s land taking into account the delivery of units allocated to ASC for people with mental health needs, plus that the council’s capital expenditure in enabling development of the sites is fully reimbursed.

4.    Confirms that work on developing the four sites should be paused with a report brought back to Cabinet for decision on next steps if the outcome of bids received means that the council’s capital expenditure in enabling development of the sites is not fully funded or if it is considered that the development agreements do not provide an appropriate return in line with the value of the land.

5.    Notes that a separate procurement process will be conducted to identify onsite support and care provision (for the units allocated to ASC) to avoid long-term support and care provision being tied into the development of the sites.

Reasons for Decisions:

·         Housing plays a fundamental part in people’s wellbeing, their employment, health and relationships. Housing conditions, accessibility and mix are key determinants of a thriving and sustainable workforce and economy. Housing also links strongly to poverty, including fuel poverty, the cost of living as well as climate change and net zero ambitions. There are strong economic, health and community drivers for seeking to improve housing, accommodation and homes in Surrey.

·         In March 2023 Cabinet adopted the ‘Housing, Homes and Accommodation Strategy for Surrey’ (Housing Strategy) and encouraged others to do likewise in a spirit of collective endeavour to address the evidenced housing crisis in Surrey.

·         Housing with care and support (also known as specialist housing) enables people with mental health needs to access the right health and social care at the right time, in the right place, with appropriate housing for residents that helps them to remain independent and ensures ‘no one is left behind’.

·         A report was presented to Cabinet in November 2021 setting out ASC’s ‘Right Homes, Right Support Strategy for people with mental health needs’. A second paper setting out the council’s delivery strategy for modernising and transforming accommodation with support for people with mental health needs was approved by Cabinet in April 2023. This included Corporate Feasibility funding allocation of £2.1m to undertake feasibility on five council-owned sites.

·         Feasibility studies were completed in November 2023, confirming the sites were suitable for development against defined criteria, however it was anticipated that unfunded borrowing would be required for the council to directly deliver the developments. Therefore, this option is not recommended.

·         As the council is unable to allocate unfunded capital borrowing to enable the proposed development to proceed, officers have engaged the housing market including registered providers of social housing, developers and funders to ascertain the appetite for market-led development. The findings are outlined in this report.

·         In February 2022, Cabinet agreed to close the council's in-house homes for Older People and “explore opportunities for developing the sites for alternative adult social care services”. This included the former Keswick, Chalkmead, Meadowside and Heathside care homes. It was also agreed that “the alternative use of any site will be prioritised in the context of Adult Social Care’s Accommodation with Care & Support Strategy”. The recommendations in this report support this.

(The decisions on this item can be call-in by the Adults and Health Select Committee)

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member of the month update be noted.

RESOLVED:

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

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

These were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.

Apologies were received from Kevin Deanus and Marisa Heath.