David Harmer

Council - Tuesday, 18 March 2025 10.00 am

The meeting began with a discussion of the future of local government in Surrey, with Councillor Tim Oliver, the Leader of the Council, and Councillor Catherine Powell, the Leader of the Opposition, outlining their differing perspectives. Councillor Oliver strongly advocated for the creation of two new Unitary Councils for Surrey, arguing that it would bring greater clarity, efficiency, and financial savings. Councillor Powell favoured three Unitary Councils, believing that it would deliver more localism and better reflect existing collaborations between boroughs. The meeting also touched on the growing debt issues in Woking and Spellthorne, prompting calls for government intervention. The Council then voted to submit its interim proposal on Local Government Reorganisation to the government.

Adults and Health Select Committee - Thursday, 6 March 2025 10.00 am

Surrey County Council has decided to approve plans to standardise urgent care services in the county and will approve a plan in the next six months to roll out Technology Enabled Care across Surrey. The council also heard presentations about how Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB) is working to improve access to mental health and dementia services and to general practice.

Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee - Wednesday, 12 February 2025 10.00 am

At this meeting the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee considered a draft of Surrey County Council's Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP), progress on a new climate adaptation strategy, and progress on a range of new waste infrastructure. The committee noted each of the reports.

Resources and Performance Select Committee - Wednesday, 5 February 2025 10.00 am

The Resources and Performance Select Committee considered two reports, one about the council's Customer Transformation Programme, and the other about the stabilisation of the council's Unit 4 MySurrey system. The committee made three recommendations on each report, and welcomed the recognition from officers that local government reorganisation in Surrey will likely affect the council's transformation plans.

Budget Meeting, Council - Tuesday, 4 February 2025 10.00 am

The Council voted to adopt its budget for 2025/26, increasing Council Tax by the maximum permitted 4.99% and making £66 million in savings. The Council also noted the Memorandum of Understanding between Surrey County Council and Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Partnership and approved the revised Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference.