The Guildford Borough Council Executive met to discuss a compensation reimbursement policy, a proposal for shared regulatory services with Waverley Borough Council, and the management accounts and business plan for Guildford Sports Ground. The executive agreed to provide additional subsidy to the Guildford Sports Ground, requested that Waverley Borough Council discharge its regulatory service functions, and approved a new compensation reimbursement policy.

Shared Regulatory Services

The Executive agreed to request that Waverley Borough Council discharge Guildford Borough Council's regulatory service functions, with effect from 1 January 2026. The aim is to create a shared service that will provide both financial and non-financial benefits to both authorities.

The report considered by the executive noted that:

A shared service will provide greater resilience, capacity and capability for both authorities. It will fully support the authorities' strategic priorities offering best value for our residents and furthering the collaboration.

The shared service is projected to save approximately £92,500 per year, and will also allow for greater resilience, expertise, and efficiency. Staff from Guildford Borough Council's Regulatory Services will transfer to Waverley Borough Council under TUPE regulations.

The report also noted that a joint service would enable opportunities to increase savings from single contracts with providers of some services, in addition to cutting down on duplication.

The regulatory services to be shared include:

• Food safety and health and safety enforcement
• Licensing
• Corporate health and safety
• Emergency planning
• Private sector housing
• Environmental protection
• Environmental enforcement and compliance

The Executive also recommended that the Council resolves to request Waverley Borough Council to discharge those Regulatory Services functions of Guildford Borough Council which are Council functions, as set out in Appendix 4 - Executive and Non-Executive Functions, with effect from 1 January 2026.

Draft Compensation Reimbursement Policy

The Executive approved the adoption of the draft Compensation Reimbursement Policy. The policy sets out a framework for assessing and awarding compensation when Guildford Borough Council fails to deliver housing services to tenants and leaseholders.

The policy aims to provide a consistent approach to awarding compensation that is reasonable and fair, and to ensure that claims are assessed and paid quickly and efficiently. The policy also seeks to enable practical solutions to be explored to address complaints on a case-by-case basis, and to ensure that compensation paid helps inform learning and improve services.

The Equality Impact Assessment indicated that the proposals in the report will not have a disproportionately adverse impact on any people with a particular characteristic.

Guildford Sports Ground Management Accounts

The Executive agreed to provide an additional subsidy of £114,279 to the Guildford Sports Ground for the financial year 2024-25. The Executive also agreed to adjust the allocated budget to reflect the 3-year Business Plan forecasts, namely a requirement of £80,687 for 2025/26 and £20,572 for 2026/27.

The report noted that failure to pay the outstanding sum for the financial year 2024/25 would lead to the Charity becoming insolvent and unable to pay its creditors.

Procurement Pipeline Report

The Executive approved the commencement of the procurement process for the projects listed in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 to the report. The Executive also granted a waiver to the Contract Procedure Rules to enable Procurement to pursue an urgent procurement of line 96 of Appendix 2 (of the Supplementary Agenda Pack) in compliance with the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023.

The Executive delegated authority to the Joint Strategic Director for Finance and Resources in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Finance, upon selection of a successful contractor, to award the contracts listed in Appendix 1 and 2, being:

• Procurement of wheeled bins (5 types)
• Trees and Countryside Works Replacement Boardwalk at Riverside Nature Reserve
• Delivery of Capital Works Relating to structural works
• Weyside Urban Village Consultancy Services for a Strategic Project Lead, a Development Surveyor and a Project Lead
• Responsive repairs contract

Freehold disposal of Dennis Way

The Executive approved the freehold disposal of Dennis Way, Slyfield Industrial Estate based on a sale price of £100,000. The disposal of Dennis Way is part of the Council's Financial Recovery Plan, with the aim of reducing Council debt and achieving a sustainable financial position.

2, North Moors Rent Review

The Executive approved an increase in the rent from £37,000 per annum to £50,000 per annum with effect from the 12 November 2024 rent review, in relation to the lease dated 31/12/79 over 2 North Moors, Slyfield Industrial Estate.

Mutual Exchange Policy

The Executive approved the Mutual Exchange Policy as set out in Appendix 1. The Executive also delegated approval all of the Housing Service policies to the Portfolio Holder for Housing in consultation with the Assistant Director for Housing, the Tenant Engagement Group and Housing Operations Board.

Other items

Councillor Julia McShane, Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Housing & Corporate Services, made the following announcements:

• A new mural underneath Walnut Bridge is now complete.
• A Community Governance Review has begun for the ten wards in the unparished urban area of Guildford.
• A recent 'secret shopper' survey exercise has found that taxi and private hire standards across Guildford are delivering a high level of service.
• Guildford will be flying the VJ 80 flag at the Guildhall, Millmead, Stoke Park Nurseries and Guildford Castle as a mark of respect for all sides involved in this conflict and at midday the Armed Forces Champion for Guildford, Councillor Stephen Hives, will also lay flowers at the WWI and WWII memorial at the castle in remembrance.

The Executive noted and endorsed the recommendations from the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee's consideration of s.106 developer contributions on 21 July 2025 in respect of the response to Recommendation 1 as set out in the report, and in respect of the response to Recommendation 2 as set out in the Supplementary Agenda Pack.