This meeting will be discussing a variety of topics that affect Surrey residents, including the local authority budget for 2025/26, its Community Risk Management Plan for the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, and potential changes to its commissioned adult social care services.

The 2025/26 Local Authority Budget

The report pack for the meeting contains the [25-26 Final Budget Report and MTFS](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100756/25-26+Final+Budget+Report+and+MTFS.pdf) to be presented to the full council meeting on 4 February 2025.

The document proposes a balanced budget with a total funding requirement of £1,264.1m, a 4.6% increase on the previous year. In order to achieve that the report proposes a 2.99% increase to Council Tax and a 2% increase to the Adult Social Care Precept¹, resulting in a 4.99% increase in the total Council Tax bill for a Band D property.

The report highlights the [Annex A - Pressures and Efficiencies](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100757/Annex+A+-+Pressures+and+Efficiencies.pdf) that will drive the increase in the 2025/26 budget, including a total of £122.1m of growth pressures offset by £66.4m of planned efficiencies across all Directorates.

The [Annex B - Detailed Revenue Budgets 2025-26](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100758/Annex+B+-+Detailed+Revenue+Budgets+2025-26.pdf) contains a detailed breakdown of the total proposed budget for 2025/26 including proposed efficiencies for each service.

A key driver for the increase in the total budget is the rising cost of adult social care packages and the increasing need to support children with special educational needs and disabilities in the county.

The report highlights that local government finance settlements in the next Spending Review period are likely to be tightly constrained and, in the medium to long-term, the Council will need to close a gap of c.£172m in its budget by 2029/30. This would be achieved through:

Growth pressures: including demand and inflation: c£370m;

Increased borrowing costs of the capital programme: £35m;

Partly offset by:

An overall increase in funding: c£67m;

Less efficiencies identified to date: c£167m.

The increase in Council Tax and the increase to the Adult Social Care Precept would close the projected budget gap in 2025/26, however the council anticipates that the period of financial challenge will continue and it will need to identify opportunities to improve the Medium-Term financial outlook.

The [Annex C - Capital Programme 202526 - 202930](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100759/Annex+C+-+Capital+Programme+202526+-+202930.pdf) outlines the Council’s capital expenditure and financing plans. The Capital Programme proposes £1,398.8m of spending over the next five years to 2029/30, including £1,016.8m of committed projects and a further £382.0m of pipeline projects to be approved in due course.

The [Annex F - Capital, Investment and Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100761/Annex+F+-+Capital%2C+Investment+and+Treasury+Management+Strategy+2025-26.pdf) sets out how the Council will finance its capital spending plans, how surplus cash will be invested, and how it will ensure that the Capital Programme is affordable and sustainable.

The capital programme proposes that in 2025/26, £246m will be funded through borrowing, with an additional £31.8m coming from capital receipts from asset disposals. The “Annex G - Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy 2025/26” sets out how the Council plans to repay its borrowing through the revenue budget.

The “Annex D - Projected Earmarked Reserves and Balances” provides a forecast of the closing balances on earmarked reserves as at 31 March 2025. In total the balances available to provide financial resilience against unforeseen events stands at £70.9m, which alongside the General Fund position, results in £121.4m, or 10% of the 2025/26 net revenue budget, of cover to mitigate against future risk and uncertainties.

Community Risk Management Plan

The [Cabinet Report SFRS CRMP - final](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100698/Cabinet+Report+SFRS+CRMP+-+final.pdf) outlines the “Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s” proposed [Annex 1 Surrey Fire and Rescue Services Community Risk Management Plan 2025-30](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100699/Annex+1+Surrey+Fire+and+Rescue+Services+Community+Risk+Management+Plan+2025-30.pdf).

The plan aims to mitigate the risks identified in the service’s “Community Risk Profile” which was reviewed by Nottingham Trent University. The document highlights three main areas of activity that will form the core elements of the service’s work from 2025 to 2030, these are:

Balance our prevention, protection, and response resources to ensure that Surrey is a safe place to live, work and do business.

Ensure we have the right resources in the right place and at the right time by better understanding risks that face our communities.

Identify and develop more opportunities to keep our communities safe through prevention, protection and partnership activities.

There are seven proposals for service change, to be delivered in a staged approach across three phases, and in addition to these there are a series of commitments across all of the service’s functions.

A key element of the plan involves relocating the existing fire engine and crew from Banstead Fire Station in Reigate and Banstead to Godstone Fire Station in Tandridge. The plan explains that this is a consequence of the existing lease on the current Banstead site ending in 2026. Whilst reviewing options for an alternative site, the service has identified that the best location would be the Whyteleafe area to best mitigate risk however a review of options has found that no appropriate location is available.

The report acknowledges that:

As a result of the consultation and a desire to ensure all potential sites could be considered, a one-year extension to the Banstead Fire Station lease, to 2026, has been agreed with the owners of the site to allow for an updated and extensive review of any options within the Whyteleafe area to be undertaken again by SCC’s Land and Property team (in collaboration with SFRS).

Another significant element of the plan is the proposal to review the existing resources at Camberley Fire Station. The plan highlights that the ‘high risk’ property clusters identified in Spelthorne, Elmbridge, and two areas within Runnymede (around Egham and Englefield Green) are not sufficiently covered by existing resources, with an over-representation of fire stations in the west of the county. The plan proposes moving resources from Camberley to a fire station in either Spelthorne, Elmbridge or Runnymede to create a better balance of resources across Surrey.

The report pack also contains the “Annex 3 SFRS-CRMP-consultation-analysis-for-public-and-members” that was produced following the 12-week public and staff consultation. The plan was met positively by the majority of respondents, with an approval rating of between 62% and 76% for those proposals requiring agreement/disagreement.

The “Annex 4 Surrey FRS CRMP Review Report by NTU” and the “Annex 5 People Impact Assessment People Impact Assessment for SFRSs CRMP” were also published as part of the CRMP proposals.

School Admission Arrangements for 2026

The [Admissions arrangements for Surrey Community and Voluntary Controlled schools 2026-27](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100476/Admissions+arrangements+for+Surrey+Community+and+Voluntary+Controlled+schools+2026-27.pdf) is to be presented to the full council meeting on 4 February 2025 and contains Surrey's proposed admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools. The “ANNEX 1 Admission Arrangements 2026” contains full details of the arrangements. The [Appendices 1-2 - PANs Shared sibling priority sites 2026](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100422/Appendices+1-2+-+PANs+Shared+sibling+priority+sites+2026.pdf) contains the proposed admission numbers for these schools, including a proposal to reduce the published admission number (PAN) for year 3 admissions at Reigate Priory School from 150 to 120.

This proposal is a direct consequence of a reduction in the PAN at Holmesdale Community Infant School, one of Reigate Priory's feeder schools, in 2023.

Across Dovers Green and Holmesdale infant schools, there will be a maximum of 180 children seeking a Year 3 place in September 2026. Taking into account the proposed PAN reduction at Reigate Priory to 120 and the Year 3 PAN at Sandcross of 60, the total Year 3 PAN in the primary planning area of Reigate will be 180, which will match the number of Year 2 places at Dovers Green and Holmesdale.

The appendices also contain a proposal to introduce a published admission number of 2 for year 3 admissions at Audley Primary School in Tandridge. The report explains that this would formalise the existing arrangement:

A Year 3 PAN at Audley Primary School will formalise the arrangement that already exists, whereby two additional children are offered a place from the waiting list at Year 3. However, the existence of a published PAN will ensure parents know about the intake and they will be invited to apply for a place as part of the Junior intake to the school.

The report pack also includes the “Appendix 3 - Southfield Park Primary School catchment”, “Appendix 4 - Stamford Green Primary School catchment map” and “Appendix 5 - Walton on the Hill catchment”, which outline the defined catchment areas used to determine priority for admissions at Southfield Park Primary School, Stamford Green Primary School and Walton on the Hill Primary School.

Adult Social Care

The “250128 Cabinet Report ELO PART ONE AHCS FINAL” outlines the proposed commissioning strategy for Surrey County Council’s adult social care services supporting adults and young people in transition with eligible needs.

The report explains that this new approach to commissioning would “establish quality metrics and key performance indicators”, introduce “a benchmarked pricing methodology”, and “secure market sustainability and growth enabling a more varied provision”.

The current offer of commissioned services includes Day Services, Outreach, Transport and Employment support, which cost a total of £28.96m per year.

The report acknowledges the Council's

overarching ambition to help everyone in Surrey benefit from all the opportunities on offer in our county, and to ensure that no one is left behind, now, and in the future.... The council is committed to helping those most in need of support and improving quality of life for everyone.

A key ambition of the plan is to:

“Promote and facilitate progression (skills gain and greater confidence)… develop more vocational opportunities (unpaid) to aid skills development and confidence… support greater numbers of people into paid employment (working with employers as well as the individuals seeking employment)... expand the Travel Training offer to support more people to travel independently (facilitated by the Travel Policy)…”

The report also outlines the proposed [Adult Social Care Travel Policy](https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/adults/care-and-support/adult-social-care-travel-policy). The policy aims to support adults with eligible needs to access their support package and to be as independent as possible.

The report highlights that:

“If a person has difficulty in getting to a destination or finding the support to do so, the council will help them access the most appropriate travel option available. This includes community transport, public transport, voluntary transport schemes, technology-enabled support and any other travel support that may be available in the local area.”

Technology Enabled Care and Homes

The “Cabinet Paper Technology Enabled Care and Homes FINAL” outlines the council's proposed strategy for delivering “Technology Enabled Care and Homes” (TECH) over the next 10 years.

The report acknowledges the [Technology Enabled Care SCC Discovery Report 2020](https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100703/Cabinet+Paper+Technology+Enabled+Care+and+Homes+FINAL.pdf) which identified an opportunity to improve independence by embracing technology, and that Surrey County Council has been piloting technology to support residents and deliver efficiencies for the last 4 years.

The report outlines the benefits of TECH including:

“Prevent, reduce and delay the need for care or health intervention – including a clear offer for self-funders and a focus on escalating needs e.g., delaying care home entry… Assess during crisis to ensure level of care is appropriate and not ‘over-prescribed’… Provide confidence to residents, their families and carers and social care staff that individuals can manage their own needs and outcomes through technology… Ongoing review so that care and support is proportionate as needs change… TECH becomes a core part of someone’s assessed care package, or self-directed support through direct payments and personal budgets… Improve access to care placements by managing risk in formal care settings and within someone’s home… Reducing cost to the sector by reducing commissioned hours of support, formal placements and enabling the sector to better support increasing complexity of need.”

The report proposes commissioning a core service offer alongside an e-marketplace. This will give the council greater agility and flexibility in procuring technology and provide access to a wider range of products and suppliers.

The “TECH EIA” highlights the opportunities and challenges of a technology-enabled model of care.

Referral of County Council Motion

The [County council motion referral- Motion- 28 Jan 2025 FINAL](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100538/County+council+motion+referral-+Motion-+28+Jan+2025+FINAL.pdf) contains details of a motion that was moved at the council meeting on 10 December 2024 by Councillor Liz Townsend. The motion was referred to the Cabinet for more detailed consideration and debate. It called on the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning to consider how to improve the experiences of families with children with additional needs seeking to access Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)² for their children.

The motion highlighted the closed nature of the panel process in which decisions are made about the level and type of support a child is eligible to receive, arguing that:

Many parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs often find the system to access education an arduous and expensive battle that brings families to breaking point… Many parents do not currently feel that the panel process is transparent or consistent… Due to its closed nature, many parents and carers often feel that vital information is not adequately covered and, in some cases, omitted. Once a decision is made, the rationale provided to parents and carers for this is often reported as inadequate and this compounds a feeling of exclusion and mistrust.

The motion calls on the Cabinet to provide more opportunities for parents, carers and the children themselves to be involved in the process.

Cabinet Member decisions

The [Annex 1 - Cabinet Member Decisions](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100747/Annex+1+-+Cabinet+Member+Decisions.pdf) records decisions taken since the last meeting on 8 January 2025.

Cabinet member of the month

The [Cabinet Member of the Month Jan 2025](https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/documents/s100748/Cabinet+Member+of+the+Month+Jan+2025.pdf) will be presented by Councillor Sinead Mooney. It outlines progress on the Right Home/Right Support strategy including the completion of the new Emily Lodge short breaks accommodation in Woking and plans for Planning for Your Future Day which will provide information for self-funders, carers and care arrangers.

Disposal of Quadrant Court, Woking

The “CAB_Part 1 Report - Quadrant Court” seeks approval from the cabinet for the freehold disposal of Quadrant Court, Woking following an open marketing exercise.

The report highlights that this site is:

currently occupied by Council services; however the intention is to relocate to alternative offices as part of the Council’s AGILE programme. The asset sits on a site extending to 2.8 acres… Quadrant Court is currently in office use and has a Site Allocation within Woking Borough Council’s (WBC) 2021 Site Allocation policy documents for continuation and enhancement of office uses.

Financial Monitoring Report

The “Cabinet report M8 Monitoring - Final” outlines the Council’s financial position for both revenue and capital, as at 30 November 2024 (Month 8). The report highlights that the Council is forecasting an overspend of £18.6m for the full year with the most significant pressures coming from Adults Wellbeing and Health Partnerships, Children, Families and Lifelong Learning and the Place Directorate. The overspend position for the DSG High Needs Block is also outlined, with a forecast in year deficit of £57m. In terms of the Capital Programme, the year-to-date spend is £195m against a re-phased budget of £321.4m. The report proposes that this be noted by the Cabinet.