The Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee met on Friday 20 March 2026 to discuss performance assurance for the second quarter of 2025/26, progress on local government reorganisation, and strategic recommendations for climate action. Key discussions included the challenges and progress in highway maintenance, the transition of services to new unitary authorities, and the council's climate change strategy.

Performance Assurance Report (Q2 2025/26)

The committee reviewed the Performance Assurance Report for the second quarter of 2025/26, which highlighted several areas of concern and success.

Highway Maintenance and Potholes

A significant portion of the discussion focused on highway maintenance, particularly the issue of potholes and the surface dressing programme. Councillor Lance Spencer raised concerns about the number of potholes and the impact of the deferred surface dressing programme. Amanda Richards, Assistant Director for Highways, explained that surface dressing is weather-dependent and that while 75 schemes were completed, poor weather in September led to the deferral of 29 additional locations. These deferred schemes have been included in the 2026-27 programme.

Regarding the overall highway maintenance programme, Councillor Stephen Cooksey questioned the low quarterly target of 30% delivery. It was clarified that the annual target is 95%, and the quarterly figures are used to track progress and enable early intervention. By the end of Q3, 75% of the programme was delivered, and the overall programme was on track for a green RAG rating by year-end.

Concerns were also raised about the quality of pothole repairs. The report indicated that since January 2025, 1139 defects had been checked as potential failed repairs, with 15 confirmed as actual failures. The council is exploring the use of AI to improve the identification of failed repairs. Furthermore, a monthly audit regime identified 75 repairs that failed on quality or workmanship in the previous month, which were subsequently repaired by the contractor at their cost.

Councillor Steve McCormick inquired about the capacity for surface dressing and whether more schemes could be undertaken to mitigate future pothole problems. It was explained that surface dressing is carried out by specialist subcontractors, and resources are booked a year in advance. While the programme for the current year is starting earlier in May, securing additional resources would require earlier booking and budget allocation. The council acknowledged that while more schemes could benefit from surface dressing, there is a balance to be struck with other maintenance activities like resurfacing and reconstruction, which are essential for roads in worse condition. The estimated backlog for road maintenance is between £300-£400 million.

Safe and Well Visits

The performance of Safe and Well Visits was discussed, with a reported fall below the Q2 target due to seasonal wildfire pressures. However, it was noted that overall performance had remained strong, with significant improvements in previous years. While the KPI for operational fire stations was on track, the specialist prevention team's performance was lower than expected due to staffing changes and training new staff. Despite not meeting the KPI, it was assured that all safe and well visits had been delivered in line with policy, and a restructure of the prevention team is planned to address resilience issues.

Trading Standards and Doorstep Fraud

The financial impact of trading standards activity fell below target in Q2, partly due to delays in installing doorstep cameras. The installer vacancy was a contributing factor, but the service has since increased the number of trained installers to three, improving resilience. The measure is also being developed to include more disruptive work. A bounce-back in Q3 installations was reported.

Birth and Death Registrations

Performance in birth and death registrations fell below target, impacting customer satisfaction. This was attributed to staffing issues, with a high number of leavers and the time required for recruitment and training. The service is now back to full capacity, and improvements are being seen in Q3. It was also noted that families sometimes choose to delay registrations for personal reasons, but appointments are now readily available.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging

The EV charging infrastructure was reported as a green KPI, with an 82% increase in power supplied year-on-year. While the number of charge points is increasing, there are still geographical gaps. The council is working towards a target of over 1,500 charge points by February 2028. The introduction of lamp column charge points is expected to improve accessibility and provide a more dispersed network. These will be funded by the supplier and do not require public support. The approach is not to reserve parking spaces for EV charging, allowing flexibility for other vehicles to park, which aims to reduce potential conflict.

Tree Planting

The impressive figure for new tree planting was noted, with an estimated 3,500 street trees planted between 2023 and 2025, exceeding the estimated loss of 2,300 street trees during the same period. The council is also working with community groups and exploring funding avenues for further tree planting initiatives. A figure of approximately £750 to grind a stump and plant and maintain a tree for three years was provided as an indicative cost.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Transition Progress Update

The committee received an update on the preparations for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), which will see Surrey County Council services devolve to two new unitary authorities, East and West Surrey, from 1 April 2027. Nicola Kilvington, leading on LGR, outlined the approach to devolution, the work of the implementation team, and the discovery work undertaken to inform implementation planning.

Service Disaggregation and Joint Delivery

The presumption is that county council services will disaggregate to the new unitary authorities. However, some services may require temporary hosting arrangements or remain countywide if disaggregation is not feasible by Vesting Day. Fire and Rescue is identified as a service that will remain on a countywide footprint.

Trading Standards

Trading Standards is proposed to remain a joint service with Buckinghamshire Council through Vesting Day. The new local authorities will then decide on their long-term arrangements, with a proposal for one of the new Surrey authorities to host and employ the team, while offices are disaggregated to serve both east and west. Learning from Buckinghamshire's LGR experience is being incorporated.

Small Specialist Teams and Contracts

The report highlighted the vulnerability of small specialist teams. Steps are being taken to mitigate these risks through knowledge sharing and clear documentation. For contracts, a variety of approaches are being considered, including novation, disaggregation, or hosting by one authority and being bought into by both. Efforts are being made to ensure continuity of service and that no contracts end before Vesting Day.

Registration and Nationality Service

Ensuring the safety and legality of the registration and nationality service on Vesting Day is a priority. The plan is to temporarily host the existing statutory officer in one unitary authority while recruitment takes place in the other. Preparatory work has been done to engage with the General Registrar's Office to ensure compliance with statutory requirements for new registration schemes.

Emergency Management and Resilience

The emergency management and resilience team is actively participating in the LGR workstream to ensure the new authorities meet their duties as category one responders. An implementation plan has been developed, focusing on emergency planning, response arrangements, business continuity, and events management. Training and exercising programmes are also being planned.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Governance

With Surrey County Council ceasing to exist, a new governance model for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is required. The preferred option is a combined Fire and Rescue Authority, which will involve representation from each of the new unitary authorities. The possibility of a future mayoral strategic authority taking on this governance role is also being considered, though current powers do not include this.

Safer Communities and Domestic Abuse Services

A gap analysis is being completed to understand how community safety components integrate into statutory responsibilities. For domestic abuse contracts, extended contracts have been awarded to outreach services and refuge providers to go beyond Vesting Day, ensuring continuity. The Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) for high-risk domestic abuse cases is intended to continue.

Your Fund Surrey

Your Fund Surrey is nearing completion, with the final applications for the small fund being processed. Monitoring agreements are in place for large fund projects, and the council will work with the new unitaries to ensure continued investment and review of these projects. Contracts are being put in place for projects not yet started, with agreement from finance and legal colleagues.

Aviation and Sustainable Transport

Regarding aviation, the key issue is ensuring the dispersal and sharing of expertise across the two new authorities, given the proximity of Gatwick and Heathrow airports. An agreement or way of working for sharing best practice and knowledge is expected, and efforts will be made to ensure consistency and avoid issues falling between the cracks during the transition.

Strategic Recommendations for Climate Action

The committee reviewed strategic recommendations for climate action, developed to inform future decision-making by the new unitary authorities. The report outlines evidence-based recommendations, potential risks, and implications.

Commitment to Net Zero Targets

It was agreed that the new unitary authorities should formally recommit to Surrey's existing net zero targets for 2030 and the 2050 national targets. Plans are being put in place to ensure clarity on these goals, which encompass energy saving, efficiency, and support for vulnerable people. The new authorities will need to decide on the pace of achieving these goals.

Transition of Climate Programmes

The climate change transition plan aims to minimise disruption to existing services, such as the Warm Homes Grant. Most projects related to services with district and borough councils are expected to continue. For capital projects, feasibility and design work will be completed before Vesting Day, creating a suite of shovel-ready projects for the new authorities.

Surrey's Climate Action Performance

Surrey has achieved a 21% emission reduction across the county and a 47% reduction as an organisation since 2019. The council scores 10 out of 22 county councils in climate emergency scorecards, performing strongly in building decarbonisation, engagement, and waste reduction. While direct comparisons of emission reductions are difficult, Surrey is contributing to national targets. Transport has been identified as a challenging area, although progress has been made in bus decarbonisation and active travel infrastructure.

Partnerships and Future Collaboration

Many of the council's environmental partnerships are already collaborative with boroughs and districts, facilitating a smoother handover. Strong handover plans are being developed for East and West Surrey. The new authorities will be encouraged to embrace climate action within their priorities and budget setting.

Achievements and Future Focus

The cabinet member highlighted achievements such as increased consistency in climate change thinking across the authority, progress in electric bus initiatives, decarbonisation of the council's estate, and work with schools on green flags and eco-schools. Significant efforts have also been made to address fuel poverty and support residents with energy use. The council has also seen excellent work in countryside management, including tree planting.

The committee agreed to add an item to the forward work programme to issue a summary of Surrey County Council's achievements in climate action for social media.

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Thursday, 2 July 2026.