The Council of Woking Borough Council is scheduled to meet on 25 September 2025. Among the items on the agenda are recommendations from the Executive and committees, including a Housing Revenue Account forensic review, and updates to the council's constitution. The council will also discuss local government reorganisation and a community governance review.

Housing Revenue Account Forensic Review

The council is scheduled to consider recommendations regarding the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) following a forensic review. The report, titled Housing Revenue Account Forensic Review, follows a review undertaken by Forvis Mazars, which focused on transactions related to the Sheerwater Estate Regeneration Project. The review identified some historical transactions that were incorrectly charged to the HRA.

The recommendations include:

• Transferring £3,841,106 from the General Fund to the HRA to rectify regeneration project transactions.
• Transferring £649,476 interest from the General Fund to compensate the HRA.
• Noting the paused transfer of the Yellow Phase land, with a future report to the Executive.
• Funding the £4.49 million impact on the General Fund from an existing legacy risk reserve.
• Ensuring existing debt standstill and cash sweep arrangements remain in place to recover surplus cash from ThamesWey Group.

A supplementary report, Supplementary Report - Agenda Item 9A - Housing Revenue Account Forensic Review 25th-Sep-2025 19.00, includes an extract from the draft minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee meeting held on 18 September 2025, where the committee considered the report. The extract includes a summary of the findings of the review, including that an undervaluation of approximately £300,000 had been identified in relation to the Discounted Land Transfer (Yellow Phase of Sheerwater Project), although there was no financial impact as the project had been paused. The committee also discussed the Birch and Pines pub, the New Vision Homes Underwrite Agreement, and the Purchase of Affordable Homes.

The Forvis Mazars summary report, attached as an appendix to the main report, notes that:

As such, it was inappropriate to now purchase a pub for inclusion within the HRA, which would then be demolished and transferred to ThamesWey. Given this, the HRA should be reimbursed by the General Fund prior to [attempted] recovery of funds from ThamesWey taking place".

The report also notes that a number of key individuals relating to the review are no longer employed at the council, which has inhibited their ability to fully understand the rationale for the decisions made at the time, nor any discussions or meetings held at the time for which records were not maintained.

Local Government Reorganisation Update

The council is scheduled to discuss an update on local government reorganisation in Surrey. The LGR update report and next steps includes a recommendation to authorise the Chief Executive, Richard Carr, to take necessary steps to facilitate the establishment of a shadow authority, including informal joint committee arrangements. This would be done in conjunction with Councillor Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of the Council, and Adesuwa Omoregie, Director of Legal Services and Democratic Services.

The report refers to a final plan submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on 9 May 2025, which proposed the creation of three unitary authorities as the best configuration for Surrey.

The report also includes as appendices:

• A letter from MHCLG to Chief Executives dated 6th August 2025, seeking input on matters necessary for the Secretary of State to consider.
• A letter from 8 authorities to MHCLG dated 5th September 2025, outlining their response.
• A letter fom Tandridge District Council.
• A letter fom Mole Valley District Council.

Community Governance Review

The council is scheduled to discuss a Community Governance Review (CGR) following a request from the Pyrford Neighbourhood Forum for the creation of a parish council in the Pyrford Neighbourhood Area.

The Community Governance Review report seeks approval for the terms of reference and timetable for the review, which is proposed to start on 1 October 2025. The council is legally obliged to complete the CGR within 12 months of receiving the application.

The report includes as appendices:

• The terms of reference and timetable.
• The stage 1 consultation document.
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs).
• A list of CGR consultees.

The terms of reference note that the review will consider whether there is a desire and need to create a civil parish and associated parish council for the Pyrford Neighbourhood Area, or whether some other form of community governance is more appropriate. The document also notes that the council is not obliged to create a new civil parish and associated parish council, nor to introduce any other form of community governance, and an outcome which concludes that no change is a possibility.

Updates to the Constitution

The council is scheduled to consider proposed updates to its constitution. The Updates to the Constitution report outlines changes to the scheme of delegation for members of the Corporate Leadership Team and to the Contract Standing Orders.

Appendix 1 to the report includes the scheme of delegation for the Chief Executive, the scheme of delegation for the Strategic Director of Finance, the scheme of delegation for the Strategic Director of Corporate Resources, the scheme of delegation for the Strategic Director of Communities, and the scheme of delegation for the Strategic Director of Place.

The report also proposes changes to the draft contract standing orders to provide clarity on processes for procuring goods and services, and to ensure the council's contract standing orders are in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023¹.

Appointment of Statutory Officers

The council is scheduled to consider the appointment of Adesuwa Omoregie, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, as the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer. The Appointment of Statutory Officers report notes that these positions are currently held by Kevin Foster, Strategic Director Corporate Resources, who is stepping down from the roles.

Licensing Delegated Powers

The council is scheduled to consider a recommendation relating to licensing delegated powers. At its meeting on 16 September 2025, the Licensing Committee considered a report proposing changes to the licensing powers delegated to officers. The Licensing Delegated Powers report notes that the proposal would allow officers to refuse new taxi driver licence applications in cases where there are serious public safety concerns. The report recommends that the proposed amendment to the scheme of delegations be approved.

Committee Appointments

The council is scheduled to consider a report regarding committee appointments. The Committee Appointments report notes that Councillor Tom Spenser is unable to take up his seats on the Licensing Committee and the Taxi Licensing Sub-Committee due to work commitments. Following consultation with Councillor Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of the Council, the council is invited to appoint Councillor Hughes to the resulting vacancies.