David Harmer

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.

Surrey Pension Fund Committee - Friday, 13 September 2024 11.15 am

The Committee supported the proposed changes to the Council's Pension Fund Committee Terms of Reference and Scheme of Delegations. This decision reflects the ongoing project of ensuring that the Surrey Pension Fund is autonomous and appropriately ring-fenced from Surrey County Council, even though it is a wholly-owned entity. The committee heard a presentation from CEM Benchmarking on the fund's costs and returns relative to other pension funds. The committee noted their satisfaction at the successful application to become a signatory to the UK Stewardship Code. They also approved the fund's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures report.

Resources and Performance Select Committee - Thursday, 18 July 2024 10.00 am

The committee considered the progress of the Digital Business and Insights (DB&I) Task Group and heard that the group's final report was nearing completion and would be submitted to the Cabinet shortly. The committee noted the progress and requested a verbal update at the meeting. The committee also considered a report on Digital Inclusion and another on a Customer Transformation Programme, and endorsed both, but asked for more detail on risks and benefits.

Council - Tuesday, 9 July 2024 10.00 am

Surrey Council met to discuss, among other business, their relationship with the newly elected national government, the provision of special educational needs support, and performance issues with the Council’s highways contractor, Ringway Infrastructure Services. The Council voted, without dissent, to approve the content of the Cabinet meeting on 25 June 2024, the minutes of the meeting on 21 May 2024, and the Scrutiny Annual Report 2023-24. They also approved a plan to update the Member Development Strategy.

Surrey Pension Fund Committee - Friday, 21 June 2024 11.15 am

The meeting covered routine updates on the activities of the Surrey Pension Fund, including the performance of investment managers and the Local Pension Board, the recent change programme and the adoption of an updated responsible investment policy. Members also discussed the implications of a recent Supreme Court ruling on fossil fuel companies, the performance of equity investments and the forward programme of work.