Natalie Bramhall

Council - Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10.00 am

The meeting began with a discussion of the future of local government in Surrey, with Councillor Tim Oliver, the Leader of the Council, and Councillor Catherine Powell, the Leader of the Opposition, outlining their differing perspectives. Councillor Oliver strongly advocated for the creation of two new Unitary Councils for Surrey, arguing that it would bring greater clarity, efficiency, and financial savings. Councillor Powell favoured three Unitary Councils, believing that it would deliver more localism and better reflect existing collaborations between boroughs. The meeting also touched on the growing debt issues in Woking and Spellthorne, prompting calls for government intervention. The Council then voted to submit its interim proposal on Local Government Reorganisation to the government.

Extraordinary Meeting, Cabinet - Tuesday, 18 March 2025 2.30 pm

The Cabinet of Surrey County Council voted to approve an interim plan for local government reorganisation in Surrey, based around the creation of two new unitary authorities to replace the existing two-tier system of a county council and 11 district and borough councils. The Council's preferred model of two unitary authorities will now be submitted to the government for consideration, alongside an alternative proposal for a three-unitary model put forward by the boroughs and districts.

Cabinet - Tuesday, 25 February 2025 2.00 pm

The Cabinet of Surrey County Council met on Tuesday 25 February 2025. The meeting included updates on the Council's Alternative Provision programme, its ongoing Customer Transformation Programme, and the Unit4/MySurrey system. The Cabinet also agreed to the creation of a new Surrey Materials Recycling Facility at Trumps Farm, as well as the adoption of new policies on economic growth and land management.

Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure Decisions - Tuesday, 25 February 2025 11.00 am

The meeting approved the freehold sale of 9 Smallholdings, Clockhouse Lane, Ashford, TW15 2HB, the asset having been declared surplus to the operational requirements of the Council.

Strategic Investment Board - Monday, 17 February 2025 10.30 am

The Strategic Investment Board of Surrey County Council agreed to sell Ranger House, an office building in Guildford, to Surrey Property Group, a company which is wholly owned by the council. The board also agreed that the council should loan Surrey Property Group money to buy the building and carry out refurbishment works on it. These decisions were made after a discussion of the council's options for the building, which included selling it on the open market or carrying out a cheaper, smaller refurbishment.