Robert Hughes

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.

Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee - Thursday, 12 September 2024 10.00 am

Surrey Council's Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee met to discuss a report from the Additional Needs and Disabilities: Parent/Carer Experience Task Group. The Committee unanimously endorsed the recommendations in the report. Following this the Committee received an update on the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Recovery Plan and the findings of the End-to-End Review of the EHCP statutory process. The Committee endorsed the recommendations in this report. The Committee then discussed a report on Children Not in School, reviewed and noted an Ofsted report on a Surrey County Council-run Children’s Home, and received a Performance Overview for the service.

Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee - Tuesday, 30 July 2024 10.00 am

The Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture Select Committee discussed the responses it received to its recommendations to the Cabinet on funding allocation and the SEND Capital Programme, as well as receiving updates on the Home to School Travel Assistance Programme and Corporate Parenting.

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.