Committee Report Checklist
Stage 1
Report checklist – responsibility of report owner
|
ITEM |
Yes / No |
Date |
|
Councillor engagement / input from Chair prior to briefing |
No |
23-10-2025 |
|
Commissioner engagement (if report focused on issues of concern to Commissioners such as Finance, Assets etc) |
No |
23-10-2025 |
|
Relevant Group Head review |
Yes |
23-10-2025 |
|
MAT+ review (to have been circulated at least 5 working days before Stage 2) |
Yes |
23-10-2025 |
|
This item is on the Forward Plan for the relevant committee |
Yes |
|
|
Reviewed by |
|
|
|
Finance comments |
ASood |
24-10-2025 |
|
Risk comments |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Legal comments |
LH |
05/12/25 |
|
HR comments (if applicable) |
N/A |
N/A |
For reports with material financial or legal implications the author should engage with the respective teams at the outset and receive input to their reports prior to asking for MO or s151 comments.
Do not forward to stage 2 unless all the above have been completed.
Stage 2
Report checklist – responsibility of report owner
|
ITEM |
Completed by |
Date |
|
Monitoring Officer commentary – at least 5 working days before MAT |
L Heron |
05/12/25 |
|
S151 Officer commentary – at least 5 working days before MAT |
Terry Collier |
13-11-2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
Confirm final report cleared by MAT |
|
|
|
Title |
Surrey Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy (Surrey Adapt) |
|
Purpose of the report |
To note (Briefing pack only) |
|
Report Author |
Tim Snook, Sustainability and Flood Risk Officer |
|
Ward(s) Affected |
All Wards |
|
Exempt |
No |
|
Exemption Reason |
N/A |
|
Corporate Priority |
Community Resilience Environment
|
|
Recommendations
|
Committee is asked to:
1. Formally note Surrey County Council’s “Surrey's Climate Change and Adaptation Strategy”
|
|
Reason for Recommendation |
The Committee is asked to formally note Surrey County Council’s Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy and its relevance to Spelthorne Borough. This will ensure Members are aware of the identified climate risks and the importance of embedding adaptation planning within future governance and service delivery arrangements arising from local government reorganisation. |
1. Executive summary of the report
|
What is the situation |
Why we want to do something |
|
• Surrey County Council published their Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy in 2024. • The Council has been asked to support this strategy by formally noting the strategy. |
• This strategy is in keeping with the Council’s own climate change commitments in declaring a climate emergency. • The strategy enables recognition of the impacts that irreversible climate change will have on residents beyond the end of the Council’s political control in 2027. |
|
This is what we want to do about it |
These are the next steps |
|
• To formally note the strategy. |
• To note this strategy and consider the need for climate change adaptation. |
2. Key Issues
2.1 The purpose of this report is to inform Councillors about Surrey County Council’s Surrey Adapt – Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy (Appendix A), and to highlight the implications of this work for Spelthorne. The report seeks to ensure that Councillors recognise both the growing risks of climate change and the importance of preparing locally to adapt to these changes.
2.2 In 2024, Surrey County Council adopted its first dedicated Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy, known as Surrey Adapt. This strategy sets out a clear and structured response to the increasing risks associated with climate change across the county. It identifies the main climate hazards, assesses their likely impacts on people, infrastructure, natural systems and local services, and proposes actions to build resilience in both the short and long term.
2.3 The strategy takes a risk-based approach to adaptation. Rather than proposing a single set of solutions. It encourages each district and Borough to assess its specific vulnerabilities and to take proportionate and locally relevant action. It also recognises the need for collaboration across the county, with an emphasis on partnership working between local authorities, the Environment Agency, health bodies, infrastructure providers, and communities themselves.
2.4 Surrey Adapt identifies a number of key challenges that are expected to worsen as the climate continues to change. These include increased flooding from rivers and surface water, more frequent and intense heatwaves, drought pressures affecting water supply and green spaces, and the growing risk of storm damage to infrastructure and property. It calls for stronger integration of adaptation planning into local decision-making, land use planning, and community resilience programmes.
2.5 As the Borough lies in a low-lying area alongside the River Thames, these challenges are already very real. The Borough has experienced a number of significant flood events and remains one of the most at-risk areas in Surrey for flooding. Rising temperatures and heatwaves also have growing implications for public health, local businesses, and the Borough ’s natural environment. The Council’s services, housing stock, and infrastructure will need to adapt to these pressures over the coming decades.
2.6 The ongoing reorganisation of local government provides both a challenge and an opportunity. It will be essential that climate adaptation and resilience are embedded within the design, governance, and priorities of any new unitary authority. Building resilience into the foundations of new structures will help ensure that the authority can deliver sustainable, efficient, and equitable services in the face of a changing climate.
2.7 By noting this report and its findings, members acknowledge the significant local and regional risks posed by climate change and the need to ensure that adaptation planning remains central to the strategic goals and operations of any future authority.
3. Options appraisal and proposal
3.1 It is proposed that the Council formally notes Surrey County Council’s Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy.
4. Risk implications
4.1 Although there are no direct risks arising from noting this report, climate change presents strategic and reputational risks that the Council will need to continue monitoring.
4.2
Strategic Risk
Failure to recognise and plan for the impacts of climate change
could undermine the delivery of corporate priorities and long-term
service objectives.
Mitigation: The Council will continue to align its strategic
planning with Surrey County Council’s Climate Change
Adaptation and Resilience Strategy and integrate climate
considerations into future corporate and service-level
objectives.
4.3
Reputational Risk
Public awareness and expectations around climate action continue to
rise. Failure to engage with adaptation planning could affect the
Council’s reputation as a responsible authority.
Mitigation: By noting Surrey County Council’s strategy
and recognising the importance of adaptation, the Council
demonstrates a proactive commitment to sustainability and
responsible governance.
5. Financial implications
5.1 At this stage, the act of noting the Surrey Adapt strategy and aligning with it does not in itself create a significant financial burden. However, as adaptation work progresses, there will be future resource implications. These may include the cost of risk assessments, staff time for policy integration, and funding for local adaptation projects.
6. Legal comments
6.1 There are no legal implications arising directly from this report.
Corporate implications
7. S151 Officer comments
7.1 The S151 Officer confirms that financial implications have been taken into account with respect to noting the strategy and that the recommendations are fully funded from within the current Budget However it is important to note the
7.2 potentially significant future implications of adaptations which will be a challenge for West Surrey
8. Monitoring Officer comments
8.1 The Monitoring Officer confirms that the relevant legal implications have been taken into account.
9. Procurement comments
9.1 There are no direct procurement implications arising from this report. The purpose of this paper is to note Surrey County Council’s Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy and its relevance to Spelthorne Borough. Any future projects or adaptation measures resulting from this work would be subject to separate reports and, where applicable, the Council’s standard procurement and contract procedures.
10. Equality and Diversity
10.1 Climate change impacts are not experienced equally across the population. Vulnerable groups such as older residents, people with health conditions, and those living in poor-quality housing are often at greatest risk from extreme heat, flooding, and other climate hazards. Adaptation work must therefore be planned and delivered in a way that considers and mitigates these inequalities.
10.2 The council should ensure that its engagement activities reach all sections of the community and that adaptation measures are distributed fairly across the Borough. Efforts should also be made to ensure that adaptation initiatives bring additional benefits, such as improved health, access to green space, and enhanced community wellbeing.
11. Sustainability/Climate Change Implications
11.1 By acknowledging Surrey’s Adaptation and Resilience Strategy and embedding its principles locally, Spelthorne Borough Council will strengthen its commitment to sustainability and climate action. While much of the Council's existing work has focused on reducing carbon emissions, adaptation addresses the equally important need to prepare for the changes that are already occurring.
11.2 Adaptation measures can also deliver wider sustainability benefits. For example, creating more green infrastructure not only provides shade and cooling but also improves biodiversity, supports mental wellbeing, and enhances the Borough ’s appearance. Sustainable drainage systems can reduce flood risk while improving water quality and providing new habitats for wildlife. In this way, adaptation and sustainability are closely linked and mutually reinforcing
12. Other considerations
12.1 There are no other considerations
13. Timetable for implementation
13.1 As this report is for noting, there is no specific timetable for implementation. Any future adaptation planning or actions arising from Surrey County Council's Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Strategy will be developed in line with forthcoming decisions on local government reorganisation and incorporated into future work programmes as appropriate.
14. Contact
14.1 Tim Snook, Sustainability and Flood Risk Officer (t.snook@spelthorne.gov.uk)
Please submit any material questions to the Committee Chair and Officer Contact by two days in advance of the meeting.
Background papers: (These are unpublished papers upon which you have relied in preparing this report). If none state, There are none.
Appendices:
List as Appendix A, B etc with a short description of each.
Appendix A - Surrey's Climate Change and Adaptation Strategy