The Council meeting on Monday 13 July 2026 saw councillors debate and vote on several key motions, including a call for electoral reform and a commitment to supporting fair trade. Significant discussion also took place regarding delivering for Sutton's neighbourhoods and the council's financial performance.

Fair Votes for All

The Council debated and carried a motion calling for electoral reform, advocating for a move away from the First Past the Post (FPTP) system. The motion highlighted the disproportional outcomes of FPTP in both UK general elections and local elections, citing the 2024 General Election and the 2026 Sutton Local Elections as examples where a significant majority of seats were won by a party with a minority of the vote. Councillors expressed belief that Proportional Representation (PR) would ensure every vote counts, lead to more representative institutions, and encourage a more collaborative and less divisive style of politics. As a result, the Council resolved to ask Group Leaders to collectively write to the new Prime Minister, urging the establishment of a National Commission on Electoral Reform, and to publicly reaffirm support for a proportional voting system for both local and general elections. An amendment proposed by Councillor Nick Mattey was debated but lost.

Continuing to Support Fairtrade

The Council resolved to renew its support for Fairtrade, committing to actively promote it locally. This includes offering Fairtrade products at council meetings, offices, and events, and promoting Fairtrade through communications and local campaigns. The Council will also support and work with the Sutton Fairtrade Community Group and community partners, encouraging local businesses and organisations to champion Fairtrade products. The motion also calls for participation in national campaigns such as Fairtrade Fortnight, advocating for urgent action on climate change and legislation to prevent human rights abuses and environmental harm in supply chains. Furthermore, the Council will support Fairtrade in educational institutions and nominate a councillor or officer to champion Fairtrade locally. The Council also resolved to review its procurement contracts to embed Fairtrade or equivalent as a weighted criterion in relevant tenders, and to require all council caterers to supply Fairtrade or equivalent products. An amendment proposed by Councillor Nick Mattey was debated but lost.

Delivering for Sutton's Neighbourhoods

The Council carried a motion aimed at ensuring local councillors remain dedicated champions for their areas and that decision-making is devolved to the most local level possible. The motion acknowledges the upcoming transition to a 'strong executive model' of governance and resolves to embed the principle of devolved decision-making in the council's new Corporate Plan. It also commits to ensuring local councillors can continue to influence decision-making and champion their areas under the new model. An amendment proposed by Councillor Nick Mattey was debated but lost.

Financial Performance and Outturn 2025/26

The Council received an update on the financial performance and budget outturn position for 2025/26. The report noted a general fund revenue outturn service overspend of £0.46m, which was offset by a £2.00m use of contingency and a £1.65m corporate costs underspend, resulting in an overall underspend of £3.19m. This underspend has been used to create a £1.64m high needs block repayment reserve and to increase general fund reserves by £1.55m to support the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The Dedicated Schools Grant revenue outturn overspend for 2025/26 was noted at £10.91m, with a resulting deficit balance of £21.48m to be carried forward. The Housing Revenue Account revenue outturn overspend for 2025/26 was £0.04m. The capital outturn was £107.99m. The Council agreed to adopt the updated 2026/27 Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for submission to MHCLG.