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.

The Mayor highlighted that the Deputy Monitoring Officer had granted a dispensation on 12 March 2025 to all Members to participate in and vote on any items considered at any meeting of the Full Council or any committee which relate to Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey.

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

On 16 December 2024 the Government published its English Devolution White Paper outlining a very clear ambition for every area in England to move towards setting up a strategic authority, led by an elected mayor. 

The Government also set a clear expectation that in two-tier areas, such as Surrey, local government be reorganised (LGR) with new unitary councils established to replace district, borough and county councils.

Via a letter dated 5^th February, 2025 Local Authorities in Surrey were invited to submit interim proposals for Local Government Reorganisation by 21^st March, 2025 and a full proposal by 9^th May, 2025.

The Council received a report presenting an initial submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on behalf of the 12 local authorities of Surrey in relation to Local Government Reorganisation. Additionally, the report invited the Council to express an initial preference for the future structure of local government in the boundary of Surrey County Council.

Councillor Hannah Dalton MOVED and Councillor Clive Woodbridge SECONDED the motion.

An amendment to recommendation 2 was MOVED by Councillor Hannah Dalton and SECONDED by Councillor Clive Woodbridge. The proposed amendment was as follows:

“Replace the wording of recommendation 2 with the following:?

2. This Council agrees that its preference for the future structure of local government in the boundary of Surrey County Council is to establish 3 unitary councils when the 12 current authorities demise.?”

As the amendment was moved by the proposer of the original motion, it became part of the substantive motion under FCR 17.8 of Appendix 4 of the Council’s Constitution.

An amendment to recommendation 1 was MOVED by Councillor Alex Coley and SECONDED by Councillor James Lawrence. The proposed amendment was as follows:

“To change the wording of recommendation 1.?

From: Council is asked to note the initial submission to MHCLG on behalf of the 12 Local Authorities of Surrey.?

To: Council is asked to approve the initial submission to MHCLG on behalf of the 12 Local Authorities of Surrey.?”

The amendment was not accepted by the proposer of the original motion and accordingly was debated by the Council. Upon being put to the vote the amendment was CARRIED with 21 votes for, 6 votes against, 2 abstentions and the Mayor not voting. Accordingly, it became part of the substantive motion.

In response to a request from a Member during the debate on the substantive motion, the Mayor invited the Principal Solicitor and Deputy Monitoring Officer to provide the Council with his recommendation on whether the  standing orders for debate should be suspended. The Principal Solicitor and Deputy Monitoring Officer informed the Council that it was his recommendation that the standing orders for debate should not be suspended, but that it was a matter for the Mayor’s discretion.

Following debate the recommendations of the substantive motion were put to the vote. The recommendations were CARRIED as detailed below.

The Council resolved with 27 votes for, 2 votes against and the Mayor not voting to:

(1)       Approve the initial submission to MHCLG on behalf of the 12 Local Authorities of Surrey.?

The Council resolved with 26 votes for, 3 votes against and the Mayor not voting that:

(2)       This Council agrees that its preference for the future structure of local government in the boundary of Surrey County Council is to establish 3 unitary councils when the 12 current authorities demise.?