The County Council meeting on 14 July 2026 saw the formal election of a new councillor, Terry Weldon for the Haslemere division, and included a Leader's statement that highlighted the council's achievements and preparations for local government reorganisation. Key discussions also revolved around climate change adaptation, the challenges of SEND provision, and the future of local government structures in Surrey.

Election of County Councillor

The meeting formally welcomed Terry Weldon as the new County Councillor for the Haslemere division, following a by-election held on 7 July 2026.

Leader's Statement

Leader of the Council, Tim Oliver OBE, began by congratulating the Chair, Councillor Tim Hall MBE, on his recent award of an MBE. He also extended congratulations to the England men's football team on their progress in the World Cup. Mr Oliver acknowledged the recent heatwaves, highlighting the crucial work of council staff and partners in supporting residents during this period and linking these events to the broader issue of climate change.

A significant portion of the Leader's statement focused on the ongoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process, emphasizing the hard work of staff and members in preparing for the transition to two new unitary authorities, East Surrey and West Surrey. He stressed the importance of collaboration and a unified approach to ensure a smooth handover of services and to secure the potential benefits of reorganisation for Surrey's residents. Mr Oliver also expressed optimism about the potential for increased devolution and the establishment of a Foundation Strategic Authority for Surrey, which could lead to a directly elected Mayor.

He highlighted the council's strong financial position, with a balanced budget and a stable financial legacy being passed on to the new authorities. Mr Oliver also detailed the council's achievements in service delivery, including improvements in adult and children's social care, investments in communities, new school constructions, and enhancements to transport infrastructure. He specifically mentioned the positive Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings for the Prison Social Care team and the significant improvements noted in the inspection of Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. The opening of a new sensory services centre in Ashtead was also highlighted as a key development.

Mr Oliver acknowledged that challenges remain, but expressed confidence in the council's ability to adapt and improve. He concluded by reiterating the council's commitment to delivering services effectively during its final year.

Audit and Governance Committee Annual Report 2025/26

The Council noted the work undertaken by the Audit and Governance Committee during the period June 2025 to May 2026. The committee's annual report provided assurance on the effectiveness of the council's governance, risk management, internal controls, and financial reporting. Key areas reviewed included risk management in relation to the LGR programme, counter-fraud activities which showed an increase in logged allegations, and the internal audit opinion of reasonable assurance despite challenges with the MySurrey system implementation. The report also covered the external audit of accounts, treasury management, and the annual complaints performance, which showed a decline in complaint volumes for the first time in five years.

Surrey Pension Fund Committee Report

The Council approved amendments to the Council's Constitution as set out in Annex 1 of the report. These amendments relate to the Fit for the Future reforms for Local Government Pension Funds and include the appointment of an independent person as a non-voting member of the Surrey Pension Fund Committee, and amendments to senior officer functions concerning the role of the LGPS Senior Officer.

Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26

The Council reviewed the Scrutiny Annual Report for 2025/26, which summarised the work of the council's four select committees. Members thanked the scrutiny team and committee chairs for their efforts, acknowledging the positive impact of scrutiny on Surrey residents and suggesting a final scrutiny report be presented before the council ceases to exist. The report highlighted how scrutiny members challenged performance, supported improvements, and influenced the delivery of council services.

Outside Bodies Annual Report 2025/26

The Council noted the report on Outside Bodies, which provides an update on the activities of organisations to which Surrey County Council appoints Member representatives. Discussions during the meeting raised concerns about the future of these appointments following Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), with officers working with district and borough councils to gather information and make recommendations to the new Shadow Authorities.

Members' Question Time

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to Members' Question Time, where councillors raised a wide range of issues with Cabinet Members. Key topics included:

• Children's Services and SEND: Concerns were raised about quadrant misalignment in service delivery, the impact on wraparound services, the number of children awaiting SEND assessments and specialist school places, and the effectiveness of the SEND helpline. The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning agreed to provide detailed responses to these concerns.
• Waste Management: Ashley Tilling questioned the disruption to waste collection services in Elmbridge, attributing it to issues at the Leatherhead Material Recycling Facility (MRF). The Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure stated the disruption was not directly related to the MRF fire and lay with Elmbridge Borough Council and its contractor.
• Highways and Potholes: Joanne Sexton and others raised concerns about pothole repair times and the reporting system. The Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth explained that residents were encouraged to submit photos, and that AI technology was being increasingly used for instant reporting and repair.
• Climate Change and Environment: Lance Spencer highlighted the impact of extreme heat on highways infrastructure and questioned the council's approach to climate change. Catherine Powell suggested the establishment of Cool Hubs in council buildings during heatwaves, which the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning agreed to explore.
• Local Government Reorganisation (LGR): George Potter raised concerns about staff disaggregation decisions being made without Member approval. The Leader stated that staffing decisions were operational and the responsibility of the Head of Paid Service, with service configuration decisions resting with the Shadow Authority Executives.
• SEND Provision and School Exclusions: Catherine Powell and Chris Townsend raised concerns about the number of children awaiting specialist SEND places and the implications for school exclusions. The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning acknowledged these concerns and agreed to provide further information.
• Roads and Drainage: Robert Hughes and Catherine Powell raised issues regarding the classification and maintenance of roads and BOATs (Byways Open to All Traffic), and the backlog of blocked gullies. The Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning agreed to investigate these matters further.
• Youth Services and Funding: Ashley Tilling questioned the timing of director redundancies in Children's Services. Maureen Attewell, Deputy Cabinet Member for Youth Services, confirmed that meetings were being arranged with Shadow Authority Executives to discuss such issues. Catherine Baart sought an update on community resilience grants and the Spend to Save minibus scheme.
• Property and Infrastructure: Catherine Powell raised concerns about the completion of works related to the Brightwells development in Farnham and the potential for contractors to overcharge for pothole repairs. The Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure assured that SCC would claim against the bond if Crest Nicholson failed to complete the works. The Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways stated he was investigating potential overcharging by contractors.

Statements by Members

Jonathan Hulley made a statement on the Virginia Water Neighbourhood Plan. Catherine Baart spoke about illegally erected flags, and Catherine Powell addressed the Farnham Infrastructure Programme.

Original Motions

Jonathan Essex withdrew his motion, intending to resubmit it at a future meeting.

Report of the Cabinet

The Council adopted the report of the Cabinet meetings held on 26 May 2026 and 30 June 2026. Key decisions included the approval of the School Organisation Plan 2026, noting the 2025/26 financial outturn, and updates on Devolution and LGR. The Council also approved targeted amendments to the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy (Under 16s), agreed to a new contract for Statutory School Improvement Services (with an in-house contingency), and approved the Capital Maintenance Delivery Strategy.

Minutes of Cabinet Meetings

Catherine Powell made a statement highlighting recommendations from the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee that had not yet been responded to by Cabinet, specifically concerning Multi-Agency Physical Abuse Guidance and the analysis of mainstream school rolls for SEND/Alternative Provision.

The meeting concluded with Cabinet Member briefings covering a range of portfolios including Adult Social Care, Highways, Environment and Planning, Fire and Rescue, and Property, Waste and Infrastructure. These briefings provided updates on various initiatives, service performance, and future plans.