Purpose

As part of our proposals submitted to
government for 2 unitary councils, we committed to sustaining
community engagement and maintaining a strong voice for local
communities. Following direction from government to hardwire local
community engagement within the new local authority arrangements, a
pilot programme has been underway since July 2025 in 4 areas across
Surrey, working with partners on a strengthened community
engagement model through the development of Neighbourhood Area
Committees (NACs). This report provides an evaluation of the pilot
programme and recommendations for next steps.

Content

RESOLVED:
 

That Cabinet notes the progress that
has been made to establish four pilot Neighbourhood Area Committees
(NACs) using a ‘test, learn and grow’ approach and the
learning from the evaluation.
That Cabinet endorses the NAC model
as a way of embedding community engagement into local government
with key sector partners.
That Cabinet agrees to the
recommendations set out in this report to;

Continue the four pilot
Neighbourhood Area Committees where partners are supportive, up
until the pre-election period in 2026
Take steps to actively share the
learning from the pilot evaluation with partners across Surrey,
including the new Shadow Authorities once established in May
2026
Consider the potential to expand the
pilot to one or two further areas from May 2026 onwards and develop
the operational mechanisms to broaden representation from
non-political resident associations, civic groups and voluntary
sector

That Cabinet support the delivery of
the emerging NAC action plans.

 
Reasons for
Decisions:
 
By agreeing to continue existing NAC pilots we
will build further evidence on how the NAC model can work most
effectively through to the Shadow Authorities being elected in May
2026. It will also ensure continued momentum with stakeholders who
have given time and resources to be involved in testing this
approach.
 
Engagement with Shadow Authorities, once
established, will provide them with a strong foundation to build on
their community engagement approaches and ensure continuity where
possible through the transition of the LGR process.
 
(The decisions on
this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select
Committee)