Surrey Heath Borough Council

The council agreed to amend the members’ allowances scheme so councillors can access the Local Government Pension Scheme, reflecting a legislative change. Officers confirmed the change is administrative and that individual participation remains optional, but it requires the constitution to be updated and could affect the council’s payroll and pension administration arrangements.

The committee approved entering into a contract to replace two chillers at The Atrium office building in Frimley. The work will be funded from the sinking fund held within the tenant service charge, with a corresponding increase to the capital programme to reflect the full project cost.

The council formally approved the Chobham Neighbourhood Plan, bringing it into the statutory development plan for Surrey Heath. The plan had already passed consultation, examination and referendum, and the motion was carried unanimously.

The executive approved commencing a local plan review under the new national plan-making system, including publication of the intention to start plan making before the 30 June deadline, a gateway one self-assessment by 31 October, and staged consultations before later gateway assessments. The policy work will continue in existing geographies for now, despite future West Surrey reorganisation.

The council’s capital programme was significantly underspent in 2025-26, with only about £5m spent against a revised budget of £17m and an original budget of £11m. Most of the underspend is being reprofiled into future years, while £1m has now been released from the capital programme for approval by executive.

The committee approved a householder extension at Timbers, Church Road, Windlesham, subject to conditions. Debate focused on Green Belt proportionality, conservation area impact, and neighbour amenity, but members ultimately accepted the officer recommendation and the updated conditions.

The meeting focused on revisiting the appointment process for the permanent chief executive and related senior statutory officers for West Surrey. Members considered whether to rescind a previous decision about the composition of the senior officer employment subcommittee, alongside wider issues of fairness, political and gender balance, candidate confidence, and compliance with constitutional and employment-law principles. The committee also agreed to explore adding a group leaders panel and discussed technical interviews, stakeholder input, and timetable implications for the recruitment process.

The meeting was dominated by two procurement-relevant themes: the proposed Frimley Park Hospital relocation and the associated planning evidence the council says would be required, and the constitutional/financial implications of charter trustees under local government reorganisation. Members also approved a change to the members’ allowances scheme so councillors can access the LGPS under new legislation, and agreed the working group terms for the Windsham parish governance review. Several public comments and member interventions highlighted transport, environmental, ecological and equality assessments that could drive future consultancy and specialist planning spend.