Richard Tear

Planning and Regulatory Committee - Wednesday, 30 October 2024 10.30 am

The meeting considered two planning applications for developments on land owned by Surrey County Council: one for the expansion of St Paul’s C of E Infant School in Tongham and one for the construction of extra care housing on the site of the former Colebrook and Spectrum Noke Day Centres in Redhill. Both applications were approved.

Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee - Tuesday, 15 October 2024 10.00 am

The Committee welcomed Surrey County Council's Climate Change Delivery Plan 2021-2025 [^2] and its efforts to meet its commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but noted concerns about funding and the need for a more integrated approach to implementation across different council services. They also welcomed Surrey Fire and Rescue Service's response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase Two report [^3] and its commitment to implementing its recommendations, and noted the Cabinet's response to the July 2024 Select Committee report on the new draft Vision Zero Road Safety Strategy.

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.

Planning and Regulatory Committee - Wednesday, 25 September 2024 10.30 am

The committee approved an outline planning application for a new extra care housing scheme at the former Birchlands Care Home in Englefield Green, Egham. They also noted the outcome of a judicial review relating to a previous decision to grant planning permission for oil extraction at Horse Hill in Horley. The Supreme Court quashed that permission, and so the application will return to the committee for redetermination at a later date.

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.