The Surrey County Council held its Annual General Meeting, marking the final term of the council before its reorganisation into two unitary authorities. Key decisions included the election of Tim Hall as Chair and Bernie Muir as Vice-Chair for the upcoming civic year. The meeting also addressed the significant financial challenges facing the county, particularly concerning the debt inherited by the new West Surrey unitary authority.

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

The meeting began with the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair for the Council Year 2026/27. Councillor Tim Hall was elected as Chair, and Councillor Bernie Muir was re-elected as Vice-Chair. Both councillors made their statutory declarations of acceptance of office. Councillor Hall, a long-standing servant of local government in Surrey, expressed his privilege in serving again and highlighted the diverse and positive work happening across the county. Councillor Muir also spoke of her enjoyment in the role and her commitment to supporting community initiatives.

Leader's Statement and Council Reorganisation

Tim Oliver OBE, Leader of the Council, delivered a statement focusing on the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the transition to the new East Surrey and West Surrey unitary councils. He paid tribute to the candidates who stood in the recent elections for the shadow councils and emphasised the importance of collaborative working between existing and incoming administrations to ensure a smooth transition. Mr Oliver stressed that existing councils would continue to deliver essential services, such as road maintenance, library services, and adult social care, until the new authorities are fully operational in April 2027.

A significant portion of the Leader's statement addressed the financial position of the council and the challenges of reorganisation. He highlighted that Surrey County Council has maintained a balanced budget and strengthened its financial resilience over the past eight years. Mr Oliver also discussed the issue of the Woking debt, stating that government support and asset disposals are actively reducing the debt, and it will not be directly borne by West Surrey taxpayers. He expressed confidence that the inherited debt from other district and borough councils, along with the county council's share, is manageable for the new unitary authorities.

Several councillors raised concerns and posed questions regarding the LGR process and its financial implications. Councillor Catherine Powell (Residents' Association and Independent Group Leader) expressed concerns about the communication and document management within SEND services, the operational status of portals for parents, carers, and schools, and the urgent need to address the contract for services provided by the Schools Alliance for Excellence (SAFE). She also highlighted the financial challenges of the fair funding review and the disproportionate impact of council tax on those least able to afford it, particularly in West Surrey, where debt issues are also a concern. Councillor Jonathan Essex (The Green Party Group Leader) questioned the sharing of data related to SEND provision and climate change strategies, and raised the issue of unauthorised flags being erected on street lamps in Redhill. Councillor Robert Evans OBE (Labour & Labour Co-operative Group Leader) specifically addressed the debt situation, questioning the Council Leader's blasé attitude and pointing to figures indicating a significant net debt for West Surrey.

Annual Review of Political Proportionality and Appointment of Committees

The Council formally reviewed the proportional political allocation of places on committees for the Council Year 2026/27. Following this, members agreed to appoint members to various committees and boards, and to authorise the Chief Executive to make necessary changes to committee memberships throughout the year. The election of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen for select and regulatory committees was also confirmed.

Members' Question Time

A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to Members' Question Time, where councillors posed questions to Cabinet Members on a wide range of issues.

• Independent Review Delays: Councillor Rebecca Paul questioned the delays in releasing an independent review, asking if senior officers were influencing its content. The Leader of the Council stated that the report belonged to the independent author and the council could not accelerate the process.
• SEND Services and Transport: Several questions were raised regarding the rollout of shared inboxes for SEND services, the transition to East-West split area boxes, and the provision of transport for post-16 learners. Councillor Helyn Clack (Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning) assured members that efforts were being made to address these issues, though some decisions rested with external partners.
• Road Maintenance and Potholes: Questions were raised about the effectiveness of pothole repairs, the use of specific machinery like the JCB Pothole Pro, and the overall strategy for road maintenance. Councillor Steve Bax (Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways) acknowledged the challenges, particularly due to weather, and committed to providing data on repair times. Councillor Jonathan Essex also inquired about preventative road maintenance and precedents from other councils.
• Flags on Street Lamps: Councillor Jonathan Essex raised concerns about unauthorised flags on street lamps in Redhill, urging for prompt removal similar to actions taken by other councils. Councillor Natalie Bramhall (Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure) explained the council's policy on unauthorised items and acknowledged that while some flags had been removed, reinstallation by the public was an issue.
• Asset Disposal and LGR: Questions were posed regarding the distribution of council assets between East and West Surrey, the process of asset disposal, and the implications of Section 24 restrictions. Councillor Bramhall and the Leader of the Council clarified that asset division was a complex, ongoing process, and the ultimate decision would lie with the new unitary authorities.
• Driver Payments and Transport Contracts: Concerns were raised about drivers on zero-hours contracts not being paid even when the contractor was paid by the council. Councillor Helen Clack assured members that contracts included provisions for drivers to be paid and requested concrete evidence of any breaches.
• Stormwater Drainage and Gully Clearing: Questions were asked about the capture of stormwater culverts on GIS maps and the process for checking their condition. Councillor Steve Bax stated that while known culverts were recorded, there were no plans to actively search for all of them, and he would provide data on jammed lids and gully clearing backlogs.
• Autism-Friendly Schools and SEND Provision: Councillor Catherine Powell raised concerns about the uneven distribution of autism-friendly school schemes and the inclusion of mainstream schools in a review of SEND sufficiency. Councillor Clack committed to reviewing the papers and addressing the inequalities.
• Foster Care and Charities: Questions were asked about the eligibility criteria for capital allocation grants for emerging foster care associations and the impact of inflationary uplifts on charities like 'Challenges'. Councillor Clack stated she would investigate these matters and provide responses.

Cabinet Reports and Decisions

The Cabinet presented reports on its meetings held on 17 March and 21 April 2026. Key decisions included:

• Youth Centre Leases: Approval was sought to enter into 15 new leases with voluntary and charitable sector providers for youth centres, ensuring continued delivery of open-access youth services. The council will continue to fund utilities, health and safety, and compliance costs for these centres.
• Complaints and Unreasonable Behaviour Policies: New corporate policies for handling complaints and managing unreasonable customer behaviour were to be adopted to ensure a consistent, transparent, and accessible approach.
• South East Regional Care Cooperative (SE RCC): Cabinet was asked to endorse Surrey County Council's membership in the SE RCC and approve a £625,000 grant to support its start-up costs. This collaboration aims to improve outcomes for looked-after children and achieve better value for money.
• Community Asset Transfer Policy: A new policy was to be approved to establish a framework for transferring council assets to community organisations, promoting social, economic, or environmental benefits.
• Strategic Recommendations for Climate Action: Cabinet was asked to endorse high-level, evidence-based recommendations for climate action, intended to guide future decision-making by the new unitary authorities.
• Post-16 Transport Policy Statement: The revised policy for post-16 transport was to be approved, including updated contribution rates and an expanded Independent Travel Allowance structure, aiming for clearer, fairer, and more transparent decision-making.
• Urgent Decisions: Cabinet noted two urgent decisions taken since the last report: new formal agreements for youth centres and Better Care Fund s75 agreements.

The meeting concluded with the Leader thanking members and officers for their dedication and hard work, particularly in the context of the upcoming reorganisation.