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AGM, Council - Tuesday, 21 May 2024 10.00 am

May 21, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting
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Summary

The Mole Valley County Council held its annual meeting, which included the election of the Chair and Vice Chair for the civic year 2024-2025, discussions on various council matters, and the announcement of several key appointments and changes.

The most significant topic was the election of Sajus Ains as Chair of the Council for the civic year 2024-2025. Robert Evans OBE nominated Sajus Ains, and Jonathan Essex seconded the nomination. Both spoke highly of Sajus Ains' previous term and his ability to lead the council impartially. The council unanimously re-elected Sajus Ains, who expressed his gratitude and commitment to serving impartially. Tim Hall was elected as Vice Chair, with nominations from Claire Curran and Will Foster, who praised his dedication and experience.

The council also discussed the recent Offstead report on children's services, which noted improvements but highlighted areas needing further attention, such as the quality of letters sent to vulnerable families and the consistency of direct work with children. The leader emphasized the council's commitment to continuous improvement and addressing these issues.

Another significant topic was the proposed closure of Banstead Fire Station. Concerns were raised about the impact on fire coverage and response times. The cabinet member for communities, Kevin Dinnis, explained that the station was not fit for purpose and that the fire service's dynamic risk-based approach would ensure adequate coverage. He also mentioned the possibility of a member seminar to explain the mapping and decision-making process in more detail.

The council addressed the issue of potholes and road maintenance, with questions about the high number of claims for damage and the criteria for compensation. The cabinet member for transport, David Lewis, explained that the criteria are necessary to protect council finances and that the current system is fair.

There were also discussions on the provision of school places, particularly for disadvantaged children, and the sustainability of small schools. The cabinet member for education, Claire Curran, emphasized the importance of working in partnership with schools to address these issues.

The council noted the appointment of Michael Coughlin as interim head of paid service following the departure of Lee Whitehouse. The leader thanked Lee Whitehouse and Katie Stewart for their contributions and welcomed the new Chief Executive, Terrence Herbert, who will join later in the summer.

Lastly, the council discussed the importance of addressing climate change and the need for increased funding for local government to support essential services. The leader committed to continuing to lobby the government for more support and funding.

Overall, the meeting focused on leadership elections, improvements in children's services, fire station closures, road maintenance, school place provision, and the council's ongoing commitment to addressing climate change and securing adequate funding.

Attendees

Profile image for Maureen Attewell
Maureen Attewell  Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning •  Conservative
Profile image for Ayesha Azad
Ayesha Azad  Conservative
Profile image for Catherine Baart
Catherine Baart  The Green Party
Profile image for Steve Bax
Steve Bax  Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways •  Conservative
Profile image for John Beckett
John Beckett  Residents Association
Profile image for Jordan Beech
Jordan Beech  Conservative
Profile image for Luke Bennett
Luke Bennett  Conservative
Profile image for Amanda Boote
Amanda Boote  Independent
Profile image for Dennis Booth
Dennis Booth  Residents for Guildford and Villages
Profile image for Harry Boparai
Harry Boparai  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Liz Bowes
Liz Bowes  Conservative
Profile image for Natalie Bramhall
Natalie Bramhall  Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure •  Conservative
Profile image for Helyn Clack
Helyn Clack  Conservative
Profile image for Stephen Cooksey
Stephen Cooksey  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Clare Curran
Clare Curran  Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning •  Conservative
Profile image for Nick Darby
Nick Darby  Dittons and Weston Green Residents
Profile image for Fiona Davidson
Fiona Davidson  Residents for Guildford and Villages
Profile image for Paul Deach
Paul Deach  Deputy Cabinet Member to the Leader of the Council •  Conservative
Profile image for Kevin Deanus
Kevin Deanus  Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue, and Resilience •  Conservative
Profile image for Jonathan Essex
Jonathan Essex  The Green Party Group Leader •  The Green Party
Profile image for Robert Evans OBE
Robert Evans OBE  Labour & Labour Co-operative Group Leader •  Labour
Profile image for Chris Farr
Chris Farr  Independent
Profile image for Paul Follows
Paul Follows  Liberal Democrats Group Leader •  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Will Forster
Will Forster  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for John Furey
John Furey  Conservative
Profile image for Matt Furniss
Matt Furniss  Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth •  Conservative
Profile image for Angela Goodwin
Angela Goodwin  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Jeffrey Gray
Jeffrey Gray  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Tim Hall
Tim Hall  Vice-Chair of the Council •  Conservative
Profile image for David Harmer
David Harmer  Conservative
Profile image for Edward Hawkins
Edward Hawkins  Conservative
Profile image for Marisa Heath
Marisa Heath  Cabinet Member for Environment •  Conservative
Profile image for Trefor Hogg
Trefor Hogg  Conservative
Profile image for Robert Hughes
Robert Hughes  Conservative
Profile image for Jonathan Hulley
Jonathan Hulley  Deputy Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways •  Conservative
Profile image for Saj Hussain
Saj Hussain  Chair of the Council •  Conservative
Profile image for Frank Kelly
Frank Kelly  Conservative
Profile image for Riasat Khan
Riasat Khan  Independent
Profile image for Robert King
Robert King  Labour and Co-operative
Profile image for Eber Kington
Eber Kington  Residents Association
Profile image for Rachael Lake BEM
Rachael Lake BEM  Conservative
Profile image for Victor Lewanski
Victor Lewanski  Conservative
Profile image for David Lewis
David Lewis  Conservative
Profile image for David Lewis
David Lewis  Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources •  Conservative
Profile image for Scott Lewis
Scott Lewis  Conservative
Profile image for Andy Lynch
Andy Lynch  Conservative
Profile image for Andy MacLeod
Andy MacLeod  Farnham Residents
Profile image for Ernest Mallett MBE
Ernest Mallett MBE  Residents' Association and Independent
Profile image for Michaela Martin
Michaela Martin  Farnham Residents
Profile image for Jan Mason
Jan Mason  Residents Association
Profile image for Steven McCormick
Steven McCormick  Residents Association
Profile image for Cameron McIntosh
Cameron McIntosh  Conservative
Profile image for Julia McShane
Julia McShane  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Sinead Mooney
Sinead Mooney  Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care •  Conservative
Profile image for Carla Morson
Carla Morson  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Bernie Muir
Bernie Muir  Conservative
Profile image for Mark Nuti
Mark Nuti  Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, and Public Health •  Conservative
Profile image for John O'Reilly
John O'Reilly  Conservative
Profile image for Tim Oliver OBE
Tim Oliver OBE  Leader of the Council •  Conservative
Profile image for Rebecca Paul
Rebecca Paul  Conservative
Profile image for George Potter
George Potter  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Catherine Powell
Catherine Powell  Residents' Association and Independent Group Leader •  Farnham Residents
Profile image for Penny Rivers
Penny Rivers  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for John Robini
John Robini  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Becky Rush
Becky Rush  Conservative
Profile image for Joanne Sexton
Joanne Sexton  Independent
Profile image for Lance Spencer
Lance Spencer  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Lesley Steeds
Lesley Steeds  Conservative
Profile image for Mark Sugden
Mark Sugden  Conservative
Profile image for Richard Tear
Richard Tear  Conservative
Profile image for Ashley Tilling
Ashley Tilling  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Chris Townsend
Chris Townsend  Ashtead Independent, working with Ashtead Residents
Profile image for Liz Townsend
Liz Townsend  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Denise Turner-Stewart
Denise Turner-Stewart  Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Customer and Communities •  Conservative
Profile image for Hazel Watson
Hazel Watson  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Jeremy Webster
Jeremy Webster  Conservative
Profile image for Buddhi Weerasinghe
Buddhi Weerasinghe  Conservative
Profile image for Fiona White
Fiona White  Liberal Democrats
Profile image for Keith Witham
Keith Witham  Conservative
Profile image for Tim Oliver OBE
Tim Oliver OBE  Leader of the Council •  Conservative