The Council meeting on Tuesday 17 March 2026 addressed the significant implications of the upcoming Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Surrey, with extensive debate on the financial outlook, service delivery, and the historical identity of the Spelthorne area. Key decisions included the approval of an updated Officer Code of Conduct and a policy to permit residents to apply for approved cross-pavement EV charging solutions. The council also voted to ask the government to name the new western unitary authority 'West Surrey and South Middlesex', a motion that passed despite some abstentions.

Leader's Statement and Local Government Reorganisation

Leader of the Council, Tim Oliver OBE, delivered a robust statement focusing on the ongoing LGR process, highlighting the collaborative efforts of officers and members while criticising what he termed unnecessary division from some politicians. He defended the council's financial management, stating it was on track to deliver a balanced budget and hand over a strong financial position to the new unitary authorities. Oliver also addressed criticisms regarding road maintenance, stating that £300 million had been committed to road improvements between 2023 and 2028, with more crews working faster than ever before. He also defended the council's investment in services for vulnerable residents, such as adult social care and children's services, which he stated were statutory responsibilities and priorities.

Councillor Catherine Powell raised concerns about the financial projections for the new unitary authorities, particularly for West Surrey, highlighting a projected £147 million gap. She questioned the viability of these authorities and the potential for discretionary spending cuts. Councillor Powell also expressed concerns about the impact of the LGR on the creation of new parish councils and the potential for a democratic deficit.

Councillor Robert Evans OBE proposed a motion to ask the government to name the new western unitary authority 'West Surrey and South Middlesex', arguing that it would recognise the historical identity of Spelthorne, which was historically part of Middlesex. The motion was seconded by Councillor Sinead Mooney, who supported the principle but acknowledged the final decision would rest with the new unitary authority. The motion was carried with 34 votes in favour, 8 against, and 26 abstentions.

Pothole Repairs and Road Maintenance

The issue of pothole repairs was a recurring theme throughout the meeting. Councillor Joanne Sexton and Councillor Catherine Powell questioned the effectiveness of current repair methods and the speed of response, particularly in areas with clustered potholes. Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, Matt Furniss, defended the council's approach, stating that over 15,000 potholes had been repaired since January 2026. He explained that the JCB Pothole Pro machine, while appearing effective, was not operationally suitable for Surrey's road network due to traffic management requirements and the size of the machine. Furniss also highlighted the significant investment in road resurfacing, with over 500 miles of roads and pavements resurfaced. Councillor Robert Evans OBE questioned the council's spending on pothole repairs compared to Hertfordshire, and Furniss attributed the higher costs in Surrey to busier roads and the use of more flexible repair methods.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Services

Several questions were raised regarding SEND services. Councillor Liz Townsend questioned the council's compliance with SEND Tribunal orders and the transparency for affected families. Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, Helyn Clack, acknowledged the introduction of improved tracking systems from January 2026 and stated that the council individually considers each order for legal challenge. Councillor Chris Townsend inquired about the council's recommendations to schools based on a pilot programme that showed promising results in reducing exclusions. Clack explained that Surrey was not part of the pilot but was working to strengthen mainstream provision and would review the full project outcomes when published. Councillor Catherine Powell raised concerns about the functionality of the SEND parent portal and the foster carer portal, and Clack committed to checking specific issues and providing updates. Powell also questioned the process for naming schools in EHCPs and the justification for overriding school consultations.

Other Key Discussions

• Officer Code of Conduct: The council approved an updated Officer Code of Conduct for inclusion in the council's constitution.
• Member Development: The annual report on member development was endorsed, with priorities for the coming year focusing on equipping members with the skills needed for LGR, including financial awareness and member wellbeing.
• EV Charging Policy: The council agreed to an amendment to the Surrey Transport Plan to permit residents to apply for approved cross-pavement EV charging solutions, subject to capital program panel approval.
• Youth Services: Estates are working to regularise the use of SCC-owned Youth Centres to ensure compliance before transfer to new unitary authorities.
• Bus Services: Discussions covered the operation of hydrogen buses, with a recall of single-deck vehicles due to a safety incident. Diesel buses were used as replacements, and Metrobus is committed to operating a hydrogen fleet.
• School Streets: The success of existing School Streets schemes was highlighted, with data showing a significant reduction in vehicle movements. Further schemes are planned.
• Food Procurement: In response to a question about the new contract for school meals, it was stated that the provider, Hertfordshire Catering Limited (HCL), is Red Tractor accredited and uses British produce where possible.
• Youth Justice Services: Surrey continues to be a high-performing Youth Justice Service, ranking in the top 15% nationally. Reforms to the youth justice system were also discussed.
• Coroner's Service: Progress was reported on enhancing the Coroner's Service temporary body storage facility into a mortuary capable of digital post-mortems.
• Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG): Funding for domestic abuse safe accommodation services has been secured for three years, and new services are due to launch in April 2026.
• Libraries: The transformation of library hubs has seen significant increases in visits, loans, and new members.
• Road Safety Schemes: Additional funding has been secured for schemes improving road safety near schools.
• Economic Growth: The STEP Surrey portal and Business Surrey continue to perform strongly, supporting businesses and employment programmes.
• Waste Management: The Simpler Recycling scheme, introducing new materials for collection, will be implemented from 31 March 2026, with all collected materials intended for recycling.
• Tree Planting: The tree planting programme is ahead of schedule, with over 765,000 trees planted in the first five years of the ten-year plan.
• Flooding and Climate Resilience: Surrey is strengthening community flood resilience and has adopted updated National Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Standards.
• Planning: The Minerals and Waste Policy Team has published the annual Local Aggregate Assessment, indicating sufficient aggregate supply for the near future.
• Placemaking: Improvements in Horley town centre and the installation of a parklet in Walton are progressing.
• Farnham Town Centre Project: Progress on the Farnham Town Centre project has been affected by delays in ordering paving materials, with officers working to accelerate the reopening of The Borough with temporary surfacing.