Agenda and draft minutes

To receive declarations of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other registrable or non-registrable interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by Councillors regarding items on the agenda.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 10 February 2026.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 10 February 2026 were agreed as a true record and the Mayor was authorised to sign them.

To receive such communications or deal with such business as the Mayor may decide to lay before the Council.

The Mayor noted with sadness the death of the Bishop of Guildford, whom he had met twice during his mayoral year.

The Mayor reminded Councillors that the Civic Dinner was on 13 March.

This report presents for decision the Final Recommendations of the Community Governance Review (CGR) under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

Council received a report presenting the Final Recommendations of the Community Governance Review (CGR) under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. 

Councillor John Beckett MOVED and Councillor Rachel King SECONDED the motion.

Following consideration, it was unanimously resolved to:

(1)           Conclude the Community Governance Review, on the grounds that the results of the recent public consultation does not demonstrate sufficient public support for the proposals that were consulted upon.

Following the recent changes to political groups on the Council, the Full Council is requested to note the allocation of seats on Committees and Advisory Panels and approve the appointments to Committees and Advisory Panels.

Following the recent changes to political groups on the Council, the Full Council was requested to note the allocation of seats on Committees and Advisory Panels and approve the appointments to Committees and Advisory Panels.

Councillor John Beckett MOVED and Councillor Rachel King SECONDED the motion.

Following consideration, it was unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Note the allocation of seats based on political balance and proportionality;

(2)       Allocate seats on the Committees and Advisory Panels in accordance with the wishes of the political groups set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

It was resolved with 15 votes for, 8 votes against, 4 abstentions and the Mayor not voting to:

(3)       Appoint all members of the Council as substitutes for their current political group members on all committees, where the appointed political group member is unable to attend a meeting.

This report proposes updates to the Council’s Live Register of Officer Delegations, for adoption.

Council received a report proposing updates to the Council’s Live Register of Officer Delegations, for adoption.

Councillor John Beckett MOVED and Councillor Rachel King SECONDED the motion.

Following consideration, it was resolved with 17 votes for, 2 votes against 9 abstentions and the Mayor not voting to:

(1)        Approve and adopt the updates to the Constitution as set out in Appendix 1 of this report.

This report sets out notices of motions ruled in order.

The Council received one Motion submitted under FCR 14 of Appendix 4 of the Constitution.

Motion 1 was PROPOSED by Councillor James Lawrence and SECONDED by Councillor Alex Coley.

The Council resolved by a majority vote (with 27 votes for dealing with the motion at the meeting, 1 abstention and the Mayor not voting)   to consider this motion at the meeting.

Motion

“Council notes that:

I. Urgent decisions (UDs) taken by officers where the Constitution enables them to do so are decisions of the Council.

II. The Council currently does not publish any decision notice for decisions taken as a matter of urgency, and no background information is disclosed.

III. The Live Register of Delegations references UDs as the decision-maker for delegating a number of functions, in the same manner as would be done for a decision of a Committee or of Full Council.

IV. Part 3 of The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 state that for a decision that would have otherwise been taken by a local government body or committee, but has been delegated to an officer under express authorisation, a record must be made which includes: the decision date, decision, reasons for decision, and alternatives considered. This record must be available for public inspection on the local government body’s website and at its offices.

V. The Seven Principles of Public Life state that public officials should take decisions in an open and transparent manner, and information is not to be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons to do so.

VI. Tandridge, Runnymede and Spelthorne are Surrey district and borough councils that operate a committee system and publish UDs in some form.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1. Nominate the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair of Standards and Constitution Committee to develop and implement a process for the publication of UDs (subject to the exemption procedure as provided for by Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

2. Request the Chair of Standards and Constitution Committee provide an update of actions taken as a result of Resolution 1, as part of the next available Chairs’ Statements to Full Council.”

Upon being put the motion was AGREED with 27 votes for, 1 abstention and the Mayor not voting.

Accordingly, the Council resolved to:

(1)       Nominate the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair of Standards and Constitution Committee to develop and implement a process for the publication of UDs (subject to the exemption procedure as provided for by Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(2)       Request the Chair of Standards and Constitution Committee provide an update of actions taken as a result of Resolution 1, as part of the next available Chairs’ Statements to Full Council.”