Decision Maker: Guildford and Waverley Joint Standards Committee, Executive, Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: December 9, 2025

Purpose:

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.