The Resources and Performance Select Committee met on Thursday 8 October 2026 to discuss the council's Q1 performance, the proposed AI policy, and the ongoing transition of critical IT systems. Key decisions included noting the performance report, approving the AI policy with several additional recommendations, and noting the cabinet's response to previous recommendations regarding IT system transitions.

Performance Assurance Report

The committee reviewed the Q1 2026/27 Performance Assurance Report, which detailed the council's performance against various Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). While 45 indicators were rated green, indicating strong performance, eight were rated red. These included concerns around the percentage of Data Protection Subject Access Requests (SARs) completed within statutory timescales, corporate complaint response times, and procurement spend on local suppliers. The report highlighted that while overall turnover remained low at 8.8%, there had been an increase to 9.7% by August, with potential for further increases as local government reorganisation (LGR) progresses. Officers noted that while some recruitment challenges existed, particularly in historically difficult areas like legal and social work, these were being managed. The council was also actively working to retain staff through career development and engagement initiatives, with assurances that staff would transfer to new authorities under TUPE regulations.

AI Policy Update

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. The policy aims to provide a framework for the safe, ethical, and effective use of AI across the council, responding to a motion raised in October 2025. Key discussions revolved around transparency, acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI, and the need for robust human oversight. Councillors raised concerns about the potential for bias in AI, the environmental impact of increased AI usage, and the need for mandatory training for staff and members. Several additional recommendations were proposed and subsequently agreed, including:

• Sharing the AI policy with the East and West Surrey unitary authorities to ensure a consistent approach.
• Updating the policy to include explicit protocols and minimum officer seniority levels for meaningful human review in sensitive service areas.
• Creating a public register of AI tools used by the council and their purposes.
• Mandating disclosure where AI materially contributes to reports, consultation analysis, or advice, and ensuring AI summarisation does not limit individual or minority views.
• Strengthening the policy with a dedicated section on training, including mandatory requirements and guidance on compliance and non-compliance.
• Quantifying and reporting the environmental impact of AI use in line with the council's net-zero ambitions.

The committee acknowledged that the AI policy would be a living document, subject to regular review and updates due to the rapid pace of technological change.

Transition of Critical IT Systems

The committee received an update on the transition of critical IT systems as part of the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process. Officers confirmed that while the programme was complex, no significant concerns were currently causing alarm. Lessons learned from other authorities' LGR experiences had been incorporated into the planning. The council was prioritising core infrastructure and business-critical systems, with a tranche-based model in place to manage the transition of approximately 1,000 systems. The importance of maintaining business-as-usual activity alongside transition work was stressed. The committee also noted the cabinet's response to previous recommendations regarding the transition of IT systems, which included assurances on risk management, the development of critical paths for Tranche 1 systems, and a commitment to further follow-up sessions.

Forward Work Programme

The committee reviewed its Forward Work Programme for 2026/27. Councillor Andy Burton raised a point about the apparent removal of performance monitoring of budgetary items from the plan, which had been discussed in a pre-meeting. Officers agreed to investigate this and ensure it was appropriately scheduled. The committee noted the forward work programme and the recommendations tracker, with no further amendments or additions proposed beyond Councillor Burton's query.

The next meeting of the Resources and Performance Select Committee was scheduled for 17 December 2026.