Chris Townsend

Extraordinary Meeting, Council - Wednesday, 8 January 2025 10.00 am

Surrey Council agreed to respond to the Government's request to participate in a joint devolution and local government reorganisation programme. This acceptance will likely mean that the 2025 County Council elections will be postponed. The Council also noted that the decision to respond to the government's letter was an executive decision for the Leader of the Council to make.

Council - Tuesday, 10 December 2024 10.00 am

The Council voted to approve the scheme for admitting students to schools in 2026. It also agreed to close the Bagshot Community Recycling Centre, and to extend the opening hours of the Camberley Community Recycling Centre. It voted to adopt the reports from the Cabinet meetings that took place on 29 October and 26 November 2024, approved a motion on climate change and net zero targets, and referred motions on inheritance tax, farming and the rural economy, and the preventative approach to children's services to the Cabinet. A motion to allow parents to attend SEND panels was also referred to the Cabinet.

Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee - Tuesday, 3 December 2024 10.00 am

The committee discussed Surrey County Council’s response to their recommendations from previous meetings regarding children not in school, and its draft budget for 2025-26. The committee agreed a recommendation that frontline roles should be protected from planned staffing cuts. They also agreed to defer a decision on the Voluntary Sector budget until more information was available. The committee heard evidence about the Council's ambitious programme of library modernisation. Finally, they considered an update on alternative provision, and agreed to revise two of their four draft recommendations on the topic.

the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee of Surrey Council

The meeting considered two significant topics, Preparing for Adulthood, and the Cabinet's response to the Committee's report into the Additional Needs and Disabilities service. Ofsted reports on Surrey's Children's Homes, published since the last meeting, were also received.

Council - Tuesday, 8 October 2024 10.00 am

The meeting started with a statement from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Tim Oliver OBE, and a statement from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Councillor Paul Follows. The Council then approved the appointment of Andy Brown as the Section 151 Officer, the absence of Councillor David Lewis from Council meetings, amendments to the constitution, and noted the annual report of the Audit and Governance Committee. A debate was held on an original motion to tackle the increasing problem of motorcycles parking on pavements, which was passed. Another original motion proposed making Surrey County Council an “End Poverty” Council was passed after the rejection of an amendment to commit the Council to not reducing funding for charities that tackle poverty. Finally the Council noted the recommendations of the Communities, Environment and Highways select committee on the referral of a motion on plant based meals.