Paul Follows

AGM, Council - Tuesday, 20 May 2025 10.00 am

At the annual meeting of Surrey County Council, Councillor Tim Hall was elected as the new Chair, and Councillor Bernie Muir was elected as Vice-Chair. Councillor Tim Oliver OBE was re-elected as Leader of the Council for a four-year term. The council also discussed local government reorganisation, councillor absences, committee appointments, and various reports, including the officer code of conduct and the code of corporate governance.

Extraordinary Meeting, Council - Wednesday, 7 May 2025 10.00 am

At an extraordinary meeting, Surrey County Council voted to note a report on devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR), paving the way for the cabinet to decide whether to submit a final plan to the government. The final plan recommends a two unitary council model divided into east and west geographies. This model aims to unlock further devolution, streamline operations, enhance service delivery and unlock financial efficiencies.

People, Performance and Development Committee - Monday, 7 April 2025 10.30 am

The People, Performance and Development Committee met to discuss updates to the officer code of conduct, career development programmes, voluntary redundancy payments and the council's pay policy. The committee endorsed the updated Officer Code of Conduct, approved changes to the council’s redundancy payments scheme, and approved the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26, recommending its adoption by the Full Council. They also received an update on the progress of the Career Development programme.

Farnham Board - Friday, 28 March 2025 10.00 am

The Farnham Board met to discuss the Farnham Infrastructure Programme, including updates on town centre improvements, cycle schemes, and the A31 corridor. The board was also scheduled to discuss programme risks and review progress against key milestones. The meeting was scheduled to include updates on various projects and address questions from board members.

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.