Issue - meetings

The Surrey Borough and District Councils have agreed to investigate alternatives to a single unitary structure of Local Government in Surrey.  They have also agreed to appoint a public relations firm to support a communications campaign. The report seeks approval of the Council financial contributions towards the joint fund.

Following consideration, it was resolved that the Committee:

(1)          approved a contribution of up to £10,000, funded from the Corporate Projects Reserve towards a joint Surrey Borough and Districts Councils fund to investigate future local government options which could include new ways of working post-pandemic, proposals for shared service delivery at Borough and District level and enhanced two tier working.

The Committee received a report seeking approval of the Council’s financial contributions towards a joint fund with Surrey Boroughs and District Councils to investigate future local government options. 

An amended copy of the report had been published as a supplement to the agenda and replaced the copy of the report included in the original agenda pack.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Purpose of funding. Following a question from a Member, the Chairman informed the Committee that the proposed funding contribution would be made to a joint Surrey Borough and Districts Councils fund which would investigate all local government structure options. The contribution would not be ring-fenced to consider only two-tier options.

b)            Proposed amendment: removal of words “enhanced two tier working”. Councillor Kate Chinn proposed and Councillor David Gulland seconded an amendment to the recommendation included within the report to remove the words “enhanced two tier working”.

Following consideration the Committee resolved to reject this amendment with 2 Members voting for it, 5 Members voting against it, 1 Member abstaining and the Chairman and Councillor Hannah Dalton not voting. Councillor Hannah Dalton declared that she was not able to vote on this matter due to a declared interest, and accordingly did not vote on this amendment.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved with 7 Members in favour, 1 Member against and the Chairman and Councillor Hannah Dalton not voting to:

(1)          approve a contribution of up to £10,000, funded from the Corporate Projects Reserve towards a joint Surrey Borough and Districts Councils fund to investigate future local government options which could include new ways of working post-pandemic, proposals for shared service delivery at Borough and District level and enhanced two tier working.