Waverley Borough Council

The meeting focused on housing service performance, resident data collection, repair and compliance contract delivery, and improvements to tenant engagement and complaints handling. Key procurement-related matters included the need to manage contractor underperformance, contract uplifts for repairs, a new appointment and compensation process for repairs, water safety remedial works, and ongoing data/digital improvements to support household reviews and service reporting.

The meeting focused on two major procurement- and spending-related issues: Waverley’s handling of CIL/SIL household cases, including possible discretionary payments, transparency, and an O&S review; and the Cranley Leisure Centre project, where members debated delays, confidentiality, budget position, contract signature timing, parking and traffic management, and the need for clearer project updates. A redundancy policy amendment tied to local government reorganisation was also approved, with the council agreeing to cover pension strain costs directly rather than deduct them from redundancy payments. The meeting repeatedly referenced the implications of local government reorganisation and the new West Surrey decision-making framework for future contract and staffing decisions.

The inquiry focused on gypsy and traveller pitches at Stovolds Hill, with extensive discussion of planning policy, landscape impacts, flood risk, site conditions, and whether temporary or personal permissions might be appropriate. The parties also discussed site visits, access arrangements, and a range of proposed planning conditions covering occupation, caravan numbers, landscaping, biodiversity mitigation, drainage, and day rooms.

The meeting focused on the Stovolds Hill inquiry and concentrated heavily on the evidential basis for the new Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA), the treatment of proxy interviews, bricks-and-mortar need, household formation rates, and whether various Lydia Park and other sites should count as supply. There was also discussion of planning permissions, site deliverability, personal permissions, flood and landscape issues, and the evidential status of the PDA-style site assessments. No procurement decision was made, but the transcript indicates continuing evidence gathering and potential implications for future site appraisal work and planning evidence contracts.

This inquiry was a detailed planning appeal hearing for four gypsy and traveller sites at land north of Lidget Park, focusing on flooding, landscape impact, ecology, spatial strategy, dominance of the nearest settled community, personal circumstances, and whether Waverley can demonstrate a five-year supply of sites. A major point of dispute was the council’s pitch delivery assessment (PDA) and the status of occupied pitches at Lidget Park as supply. The parties also debated whether flood risk and ecological or drainage impacts could be controlled by conditions, and whether the development plan or the tilted balance under national policy should determine the outcome.

The committee focused on its forward work programme for Waverley’s final year, with particular scrutiny of major developments, the waste and street cleaning contract extension, and housing-related performance issues. Members then debated the quarter four performance report, especially tenant repairs and satisfaction, planning appeals, and staff sickness. The financial outturn showed a sizeable underspend, prompting discussion about how any available funds could be used for residents before the move to West Surrey, alongside concerns about delayed procurement in grounds maintenance and street cleaning.