Content

Decision:
1.           
To resolve:
 
1.1           
To note the Secretary of State’s decision to
proceed with two unitary councils for Surrey, as set out in the
letter at Appendix 1 to this report;
 
1.2           
To approve, subject to the similar approval by
Surrey County Council, Waverley Borough Council, Runnymede Borough
Council, Spelthorne Borough Council, Surrey Heath Borough Council
and Woking Borough Council, the establishment of a West Surrey
Joint Committee, in accordance with section 101(5) of the Local
Government Act 1972 and pursuant to the requirements of the draft
Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026, to be entered into between
Guildford Borough Council and the other principal authorities
referenced in this paragraph;
 
1.3           
To nominate the Leader of Guildford Borough Council
as the Guildford Borough Council representative on the West Surrey
Joint Committee and to recommend their appointment to
Council;
 
1.4           
To recommend to Council that it delegates the
nomination and appointment of any substitute member on the West
Surrey Joint Committee to the Leader of the Council; 
 
1.5           
To approve the draft terms of reference of the West
Surrey Joint Committee as set out in Appendix 2 to this report, and
to delegate to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the
Leader of the Council, the authority to make minor
amendments;
 
1.6           
To note that whilst the West Surrey Joint Committee
is established by resolution of all current councils in the
geography of the proposed West Surrey Council, on a voluntary
basis, upon the enactment of the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order
2026 the West Surrey Joint Committee shall become the  joint committee required to be established under
the provisions of that legislation and that this will be
constituted and established under the provisions of section 101 (5)
of the Local Government Act 1972 and pursuant to the requirements
of the Surrey (Structural Changes) Order 2026.
 
1.7           
To approve the delegation of all Guildford Borough
Council Executive functions, within the terms of reference of the
West Surrey Joint Committee, to the West Surrey Joint
Committee.
 
2.           
To recommend that the Council resolves:
 

2.1        To take into
account the recommendations of the Joint Standards
Committee;

2.2        To note,
subject to the decision of the Executive, the resolution to
establish a West Surrey Joint Committee, subject to the decision of
other councils, between the principal authorities of Surrey County
Council, Guildford Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council,
Spelthorne Borough Council, Runnymede Borough Council, Surrey Heath
Borough Council, and Woking Borough Council.

2.3        To note the
Executive’s approval of the draft terms of reference for the
West Surrey Joint Committee, as set out in Appendix 2;

2.4        To note the
Executive’s recommendation of the Leader as the nominated
Guildford Borough Council to represent Guildford Borough Council on
the West Surrey Joint Committee and resolve to make such
appointment;

2.5        To delegate
authority to the Leader of the Council to nominate and appoint any
substitute member to represent Guildford Borough Council on the
West Surrey Joint Committee;

2.6        To delegate
all non-Executive functions relating to Guildford Borough Council,
within the remit of the West Surrey Joint Committee, to the West
Surrey Joint Committee;

2.7        To delegate to
the Monitoring Officer the authority to make any necessary and
consequential amendments, arising from the resolutions of the
Executive and the Council in this matter, to the Guildford Borough
Council constitution.
 
Reason(s):

1.           
As Surrey transitions to two new unitary local
authorities, Guildford Borough Council remains committed to
maintaining openness and transparency with residents and wider
partners, which includes regular updates to members on local
government reorganisation.

2.           
The recommendations in this report are made to
support the desire to be well prepared for local government
reorganisation and to be able to support the West Surrey Council
shadow authority from May 2026.
 
Other options considered and
rejected by the Executive:

1.           
To wait until the Council is mandated to establish a
West Surrey Joint Committee by the SCO in March 2026.

2.           
To appoint a West Surrey Joint Committee but on
different terms of reference from those expected in the draft
SCO.
 
Details of any conflict of
interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any
dispensation granted:
None.