John O'Reilly

Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee - Tuesday, 3 December 2024 10.00 am

The committee discussed Surrey County Council’s response to their recommendations from previous meetings regarding children not in school, and its draft budget for 2025-26. The committee agreed a recommendation that frontline roles should be protected from planned staffing cuts. They also agreed to defer a decision on the Voluntary Sector budget until more information was available. The committee heard evidence about the Council's ambitious programme of library modernisation. Finally, they considered an update on alternative provision, and agreed to revise two of their four draft recommendations on the topic.

the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee of Surrey Council

The Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee voted by 7 to 4 to refer the decision not to proceed with the A3100 Burpham to Boxgrove Roundabout Active Travel Scheme back to the Cabinet for reconsideration. The Select Committee felt that the decision should be reconsidered because the original decision was not fully supported by the evidence presented and because it did not take into account alternative options, active travel's contribution to health and well-being, and the council's commitment to achieving net zero by 2050.

the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee of Surrey Council

The meeting considered two significant topics, Preparing for Adulthood, and the Cabinet's response to the Committee's report into the Additional Needs and Disabilities service. Ofsted reports on Surrey's Children's Homes, published since the last meeting, were also received.

Resources and Performance Select Committee - Friday, 18 October 2024 10.00 am

The Resources and Performance Select Committee of Surrey County Council met on Friday 18 October 2024 and noted a report on the Strategic Investment Board's annual report on investments. The committee will produce a more comprehensive set of recommendations in part two of the meeting.

Council - Tuesday, 8 October 2024 10.00 am

The meeting started with a statement from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Tim Oliver OBE, and a statement from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Paul Follows. The Council then approved the appointment of Andy Brown as the Section 151 Officer, the absence of Councillor David Lewis from Council meetings, amendments to the constitution, and noted the annual report of the Audit and Governance Committee. A debate was held on an original motion to tackle the increasing problem of motorcycles parking on pavements, which was passed. Another original motion proposed making Surrey County Council an “End Poverty” Council was passed after the rejection of an amendment to commit the Council to not reducing funding for charities that tackle poverty. Finally the Council noted the recommendations of the Communities, Environment and Highways select committee on the referral of a motion on plant based meals.