Minutes of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee
17 & 23 February 2026
Present:
Councillor J.R. Sexton (Chair)
Councillor C. Bateson (Vice-Chair)
Councillors:
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M.M. Attewell J.R. Boughtflower M. Buck J. Button |
D.C. Clarke S.M. Doran M. Gibson M.J. Lee
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S.C. Mooney L. E. Nichols J.A. Turner H.R.D. Williams
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Substitutions: |
Councillors K. Howkins |
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15/26 |
Apologies and Substitutes
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17 February 2026
Apologies were received from Councillor Boughtflower. Councillor Howkins was present as Councillor Boughtflower’s substitute.
23 February 2026
Apologies were received from Councillors Attewell and Mooney. Councillor Howkins was present as Councillor Mooney’s substitute and Councillor Saliagopoulos was present as Councillor Attewell’s substitute.
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16/26 |
Minutes
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The minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2026 were agreed as a correct record.
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17/26 |
Disclosures of Interest
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17 February 2026
Councillors Attewell, Mooney and Sexton advised that they were also Surrey County Councillors.
Councillor Nichols advised that he was on the Board of Directors for Knowle Green Estates.
23 February 2026
Councillor Sexton advised that she was also a Surrey County Councillor.
Councillor Nichols advised that he was on the Board of Directors for Knowle Green Estates.
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18/26 |
Questions from members of the Public
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There were none.
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19/26 |
Updated Improvement and Recovery Plan
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The Committee considered a report that sought approval of the revised Improvement and Recovery Plan (IRP) presented by Ruth Adams, Interim Programme Director.
Concerns were raised by the Committee concerning the lack of Key Performance Indicators and target dates on the plan as this would not make monitoring of progress problematic. Ruth advised that objectives and target dates would be added to the report to address these concerns. The Committee requested that social value be included in the IRP following the adoption of the Social Value Strategy by Council on 29 January 2026.
Councillor Williams asked that it be noted in the minutes that he did not agree with the Updated Improvement and Recovery Plan.
The Committee resolved to approve the revised Draft Improvement and Recovery Plan subject to it being amended to reflect the areas that the Committee asked to be addressed.
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20/26 |
Q2 Corporate KPI Results
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The Committee resolved to agree that they had been informed and assured with regard to the Corporate Key Performance Indicators data for Quarter 2 2025/26.
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21/26 |
Pay Award 2026/27 and Pay Award 2025/26 (back dated award)
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The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to approve a pay award for 2026/27 and a backdated pay award for 2025/26 as follows:
1. 2026/27 – a consolidated pay award of 4% on all spinal points and personal salaries (across the board increase); and
2. 2025/26 – a consolidated backdated pay award of 0.2% in recognition of the difference between the National Pay Award and Spelthorne Council’s pay award of the previous two year period. Payment to be backdated to 01 April 2025.
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22/26 |
Pay Policy 2026/27
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The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to approve the Pay Policy Statement.
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23/26 |
Q3 Revenue Monitoring Report
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The Committee considered the Q3 Revenue Monitoring Report.
During the discussions the Committee asked that evidence be provided about the Commissioners’ value for money. The Committee were advised that a written response would be given.
The Committee resolved to acknowledge the forecast Revenue Outturn that reflected the latest forecast of budget holders.
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24/26 |
Q3 Capital Monitoring Report
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The Committee resolved to approve the quarter 3 2025/226 Capital Programme Budget Monitoring Report for 2026/27 for the Council, showing a £0.238m overspend to be covered by earmarked reserves.
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25/26 |
Draft Detailed Revenue Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy
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The Committee considered a report that asked for Recommendations 1 and 2 to be noted and a recommendation to be made to Council to approve 3.1 to 3.6.
During the debate the Committee asked that the report be amended before being presented to Council. Officers were asked to standardise the references to the Council reserves to make it clearer to members.
The Committee asked how much of the Better Neighbourhood Grant fund remained unspent and were advised that members would be advised in writing.
The Chair split the recommendations into 2 separate parts for the Committee to vote on.
Councillor Clarke requested a recorded vote on both parts of the recommendations.
Part 1:
Does the Committee agree that it has considered the Statutory Section 25 and Section 26 Report of the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) in Appendix J in determining:
A) The proposed budget for 2026/27,
B) The medium-term financial plans for 2026/27 to 2028/29 and
C) The robustness of estimates and reserves projections
And
Does the Committee note the level of earmarked reserves as at 31 March 2026 is £32.2m and available earmarked reserves forecast to be available are £27.1m as set out in Appendix F
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For |
Councillors Sexton, Bateson, Button, Gibson, Nichols, Turner, Williams – 7 votes |
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Against |
Councillors Attewell, Buck, Clarke, Howkins, Lee, Mooney – 6 votes |
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Abstain |
Councillor S Doran – 1 vote |
Part 2:
Does the Committee agree to make a recommendation to Council that it approves the following:
1. The General Fund Revenue Budget for 2026/27 including:
a) The General Fund Budget Requirement of £19.318m for 2026/27
b) Growth and pressures of £1.252m for 2026/27
c) Proposed savings of £5.752m for 2026/27
2. An increase in the Council’s element of the Council Tax for a band D property by £6.64 per annum for 2026/27 (2.90%), giving a Band D Council Tax of £235.50 per year, excluding the precepts from Surrey County Council and the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner.
3. Notes the following Council Tax increases and precepts as detailed in Appendix I:
a) Surrey County Council had increased Council Tax for a Band D property to £1,938.42 per annum, a 4.99% increase on 2025/26, resulting in a precept of £80,014,295.
b) The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey had increased Council Tax for a Band D property to £352.57 per annum, a £15 or 4.4% increase on 2025/26, resulting in a precept of £14,553.420.
c) This resulted in an overall Band D Council Tax of £2,526.49 for Spelthorne residents, an increase of £113.71 (4.5%) per annum.
d) The Spelthorne Borough Council element of the Council Tax was 9.3% of the total bill for Spelthorne residents
4. The calculations for determining the Council Tax requirement for the year 2026/27 in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as set out in the Council Tax Resolution in Appendix I,
5. The Fees and Charges for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix H; and
6. The continuation of the complete disregard of war pension/armed forces pension income from benefit calculations as set out in paragraph 2.22 of this report.
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For |
Councillors Sexton, Bateson, Button, S Doran, Gibson, Nichols, Turner, Williams – 8 votes |
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Against |
Councillors Clarke, Howkins – 2 votes |
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Abstain |
Councillors Attewell, Buck, Lee, Mooney – 4 votes |
The Committee resolved to:
Agree that it had considered the Statutory Section 25 and Section 26 Report of the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) in Appendix J in determining:
A) The proposed budget for 2026/27,
B) The medium-term financial plans for 2026/27 to 2028/29 and
C) The robustness of estimates and reserves projections; and
noted the level of earmarked reserves as at 31 March 2026 was £32.2m and available earmarked reserves forecast to be available were £27.1m as set out in Appendix F,
2. make a recommendation to Council to approve the following:
1. the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2026/27 including:
i) The General Fund Budget Requirement of £19.318m for 2026/27,
ii) Growth and pressures of £1.252m for 2026/27
iii) Proposed savings of £5.752m for 2026/27
2. An increase in the Council’s element of the Council Tax for a band D property by £6.64 per annum for 2026/27 (2.90%), giving a band D Council Tax of £235.50 per year, excluding the precepts from Surrey County Council and the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner.
3. Note the following Council Tax increases and precepts as detailed in Appendix I:
a) Surrey County Council had increased Council Tax for a Band D property to £1,938.42 per annum, a 4.99% increase on 2025/26, resulting in a precept of £80,014,295.
b) The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey had increased Council Tax for a Band D property to £352.57 per annum, a £15 or 4.4% increase on 2025/26, resulting in a precept of £14,553.420.
c) This resulted in an overall Band D Council Tax of £2,526.49 for Spelthorne residents, an increase of £113.71 (4.5%) per annum.
d) The Spelthorne Borough Council element of the Council Tax was 9.3% of the total bill for Spelthorne residents
4. The calculations for determining the Council Tax requirement for the year 2026/27 in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as set out in the Council Tax Resolution in Appendix I,
5. The Fees and Charges for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix H; and
6. The continuation of the complete disregard of war pension/armed forces pension income from benefit calculations as set out in paragraph 2.22 of this report
It was proposed by Councillor Bateson and seconded by Councillor Gibson and resolved by Committee to suspend Standing Order 38.2 to allow the meeting to go beyond three hours.
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26/26 |
Capital Strategy and Capital Programme 2026-2027
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The Committee discussed the Capital Strategy and Capital Programme 2026/27.
The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to consider and approve the proposed Capital Strategy and Capital Programme for 2026/27 to 2029 as set out in the report.
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27/26 |
Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27
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This item was considered at the carry-over meeting held Monday 23 February
The Committee considered a report, from the Interim Treasury Management Accountant that sought a recommendation to be made to Council.
During the debate the Committee asked that a model be produce that would have how the strategy
The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to approve the Treasury Management Strategy for 2026/27 including:
1. The Annual Investment Strategy for 2026/27,
2. The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2026/27; and
3. The Prudential Indicators for 2026/27.
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28/26 |
Forward Plan
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This item was considered at the carry-over meeting held Monday 23 February
The Committee resolved to note the contents of the Forward Plan.
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29/26 |
Exclusion of Public & Press (Exempt Business)
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Meeting held 17 February 2026
Proposed by Councillor Bateson
Seconded by Councillor Button
The Committee resolved to exclude the public and press for the discussion of the item No. 18, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.
Meeting held 23 February 2026
Proposed by Councillor Bateson
Seconded by Councillor Gibson
The Committee resolved to exclude the public and press for the discussion of the item No. 18, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.
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30/26 |
Urgent Actions
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This item was considered at the carry-over meeting held Monday 23 February
The Committee were advised that a recruitment exercise had been undertaken to appoint an Interim Deputy Chief Finance Officer.
The Committee resolved to note the urgent action that had been taken since the last meeting of the Committee
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31/26 |
Affordable Housing Delivery with Commuted Sum
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This item was considered at the carry-over meeting held Monday 23 February
The Committee resolved to:
1. Approve Option 1, as outlined in the report; and
2. Authorise the Strategic Housing Lead, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Group Head of Community Wellbeing and Housing, to negotiate acquisitions based on Option 1, with reference to best value principles.
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32/26 |
Disposal of A Commercial Office Asset
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This item was considered at the meeting held Tuesday 17 February
The Committee resolved to:
1. Agree in principle the offer and the proposed disposal,
2. Make a recommendation to Council to:
a) Approve the proposed disposal on the terms set out in this report,
b) Delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer and Group Head of Assets, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and the chair and Vice-Chair of the Commercial Assets Sub-Committee, to agree minor variations to the Heads of Terms and the sale price within a tolerance of 10% of the agreed price; and
c) Delegate authority to the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into a transfer to complete the disposal and any ancillary legal documentation required in relation to the proposed disposal.