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Cabinet - Tuesday, 25 November 2025 2.00 pm
November 25, 2025 Cabinet View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
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The Surrey County Council cabinet met to discuss the 2026/27 draft budget, schools and early years funding, changes to adult social care charging policies, and the climate change delivery plan. The cabinet approved the draft budget for 2026/27, which includes a proposed council tax increase of 2.99%, alongside a 2% precept for social care, and also approved a number of property disposals. The cabinet also endorsed the coordinated admissions scheme for September 2027, and recommended the scheme to the County Council for approval.
Financial Matters
2026/27 Draft Budget
The cabinet approved the draft budget for 2026/27, but noted a £21.3 million budget gap. Councillor Tim Oliver OBE, Leader of the Council, explained that this is the last budget that Surrey County Council will set before the creation of two new unitary authorities1 in East and West Surrey. He noted that the government has confirmed a three-year settlement, which will set the scene for the new unitary authorities' budget setting process.
Councillor Oliver raised concerns about the fair funding review, which he said could result in a loss of income of around £50 million a year for the council. He also noted that by 2029, about 98% of the council's income will come from council tax increases. The draft budget assumes a 2.99% increase in council tax, with an additional precept of 2% for social care.
Councillor David Lewis, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, highlighted the importance of the capital programme, which delivers the council's strategic priorities. He noted that the cost of delivering these projects has increased over the last few years.
The cabinet agreed to note the draft budget, the budget gap, the proposed capital programme, and the approach to resident engagement.
Surrey Schools and Early Years Funding
The cabinet approved the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funding arrangements for 2026/27. Councillor Jonathan Hulley, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, stated that this funding is vital to ensure that schools and early years providers receive fair, transparent, and sustainable funding. The recommendations in the report include continuing the 1% transfer from the schools block to the high needs block under the safety valve agreement2.
Councillor Clare Curran, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, drew attention to the significant increase in the early years entitlement for free childcare for working families. She noted that the vast majority of this funding is passed on to nursery provision.
The cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Education and Lifelong Learning to approve amendments to the funding rates in the schools funding formula and early years funding formula, following receipt of the DSG settlement and Department for Education (DfE) pupil data in December 2025.
Adult Social Care Charging Policy
The cabinet approved a revised charging policy for adult social care community care services, with changes coming into effect in February 2026. Councillor Sinead Mooney, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, explained that the changes are being considered because Surrey is now one of the few councils charging below national guidance for people receiving care in the community.
The key changes include:
- Adjusting the capital threshold from £24,500 to £23,250, aligning with the national threshold.
- Introducing a tariff income of £1 a week for every £250 of capital between £14,250 and £23,250.
Councillor Mooney emphasised that these changes are designed so that contributions reflect what people can reasonably afford and apply mainly to people with higher levels of capital. She also highlighted the support available to residents, including benefit checks and financial advice.
Property Disposals
The cabinet approved the disposal of several properties:
- 33 Rookery Road, Staines: The cabinet approved the sale of 33 Rookery Road, Staines, subject to conditions and price variation mechanisms outlined in the Part 2 report.
- Fairways Day Centre, Staines: The cabinet approved the freehold disposal of Fairways Day Centre, Staines, to the bidder outlined in the Part 2 report. Councillor Turner-Stewart and Councillor Mooney expressed their support for the sale.
- Beechcroft Nursery, Epsom: The cabinet approved the freehold disposal of Beechcroft Nursery, Epsom. Councillor Beckett, the divisional member, supported the sale. Councillor Oliver noted that the council had gone with Councillor Beckett's preference, which might not have been the highest commercial price.
Climate Change Delivery Plan
Councillor Marisa Heath, Cabinet Member for Environment, presented the climate change delivery plan progress report. She reported that council emissions have fallen by 47% compared to 2019, putting the council on track with its 2030 net zero targets. Key achievements include the LED street lighting programme and retrofitting buildings.
However, Councillor Heath noted that progress has been slower than planned on solar installations and fleet decarbonisation. She highlighted the lack of consistent government funding as a major risk to meeting the targets.
Councillor Heath stated that the transition plan will focus on benefits for residents and set out the groundwork for the new unitary authorities. A 10-year strategy will also be developed to provide a roadmap for the future.
Councillor Helyn Clack, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, asked about the source of hydrogen for the hydrogen buses in her division. Councillor Oliver noted that the core of this work has to be the added benefits, such as improved air quality for residents.
Coordinated Admissions Scheme
The cabinet endorsed the coordinated admissions scheme for September 2027, and recommended the scheme to the County Council for approval. Councillor Hulley stated that the scheme ensures fairness, transparency, and efficiency in admissions. He noted that the scheme is essentially unchanged from 2026, with only updated dates and minor clarifications.
Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Councillor Oliver provided an update on the devolution and local government reorganisation process. He noted that the Secretary of State has decided that the 12 councils should be consolidated and then split up into two unitary councils, East and West Surrey. Elections to these new councils will take place in May 2026.
Councillor Oliver also mentioned the Woking debt and the government's commitment to providing funding to pay down that debt. He stated that the government has confirmed the first tranche of funding of £500 million.
Month Six Financial Position
Councillor Lewis presented the month six financial report, which reflects a deterioration from the previous reported position. He noted the importance of focusing on all expenditure and ensuring that services live within their revenue budgets. Councillor Lewis also mentioned the Hawley town centre improvement programme, which is being funded largely by section 106 payments3.
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Unitary authorities are local authorities that are responsible for all local government services within a single area. ↩
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A safety valve agreement is an agreement between a local authority and the Department for Education to manage high needs funding deficits. ↩
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Section 106 payments are contributions made by developers to mitigate the impact of their developments on the local community. ↩
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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2026/27 Draft Budget
Recommendations Approved...to note the 2026/27 Draft Budget, including spending pressures and efficiencies, the £21.3m budget gap, the proposed £277.4m Draft Capital Programme, and the summary of Resident Engagement and next steps.
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Reports from Select Committees, Task Groups and other Committees of the Council
Recommendations Approved -
Representations received on reports to be considered in private
Recommendations Approved -
Petitions
Recommendations Approved -
Public Questions
Recommendations Approved...to approve the recommendations, noting that no public questions were raised.
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Members' Questions
Recommendations Approved -
Surrey Schools And Early Years Funding 2026/27
Recommendations Approved...to comply with Department for Education regulations and meet statutory deadlines, the Cabinet approved the application to transfer 1% of schools' block funding to support high needs SEND costs, agreed to the general principles for schools funding in 2026/27 recommended by the Schools Forum, agreed to continue additional funding to primary schools with disproportionately high incidence of SEND and those with temporary falls in roll, agreed to the principles of Surrey's early years funding formula for 2026/27, and delegated authority to the Director of Education and Lifelong Learning to approve amendments to the funding rates in the schools and early years funding formulae.
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Devolution And Local Government Reorganisation Update
Recommendations Approved...to facilitate the transition to two unitary councils for Surrey, the Cabinet approved the establishment of voluntary joint committees for East and West Surrey, delegated authority to the Chief Executive to agree on their terms of reference, referred the nomination of members to the Council meeting, authorized the Chief Executive to progress with planning for a Surrey-wide combined authority, and noted the progress on Neighbourhood Area Committees.
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Consultation On A Revised Adult Social Care Charging Policy For Community Care Services
Information Only...to revise the Adult Social Care charging policy, effective February 2, 2026, by increasing the upper capital threshold to £23,250 and introducing a tariff income of £1 per week for every £250 of capital between £14,250 and £23,250 for community care service recipients.
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Disposal of Fairways Day Centre
Recommendations Approved -
Disposal of 33 Rookery Road
Recommendations Approved -
Minutes of Previous Meeting: 28 October 2025
Recommendations Approved -
Apologies for Absence
Information Only -
Climate Change Delivery Plan Progress Report 2024/25
Recommendations Approved... to note the progress against carbon emission reduction targets up to March 2025, the ongoing development of a 'Transition Plan' and 10-year Strategy, and to bring these items back for further scrutiny in Spring 2026.
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2025/26 Month 6 (September) Financial Report
Recommendations approved... to note the Council's forecast revenue and capital budget positions, agree to reset efficiencies for 2025/26 while maintaining the £66.4m target, approve a revised budget for the Horley Town Centre Improvement Programme, approve the extension of Council Tax Relief for Care Leavers, and note the Balance Sheet indicators.
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Coordinated Admissions Scheme For September 2027
Recommendations Approved...to endorse the coordinated admissions scheme for September 2027 and recommend it to the County Council for approval.
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Disposal of 33 Rookery Road
Recommendations Approved...to declare 33 Rookery Road surplus to operational requirements, approve its sale to a specified party at a price detailed in a separate report, and delegate authority to finalize the transaction.
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Declarations of Interest
For DeterminationThe Cabinet of Surrey Council on 25 November 2025 recorded a declaration of interest. No formal decision text was provided.
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