Issue - meetings

To consider a proposal to disband the Constitution Sub-Committee and establish a Constitution Working Group to replace the Sub-Committee with immediate effect.

This item is to be considered at the Constitution Sub-Committee meeting on 27 August 2026 therefore the report is to follow.

The Committee considered a report that sought approval to disband the Constitution Sub-Committee and establish a Constitution Working Group to replace the Sub-Committee.

This item had been discussed at the Constitution Sub-Committee meeting held 27 August 2026. The proposal was not agreed by all members of the Sub-Committee with concerns raised about the lack of transparency if the Working Group met without the meeting being recorded and available to the public and without proper minutes.

Following a debate, it was agreed by a consensus that minutes would be taken and attached to the papers for the next formal Standards Meeting.

Councillor J Austin proposed and Councillor J Hulley seconded a motion that the Terms of Reference for the Working Group be amended to reflect that the meeting would be recorded and available for the public to view on the Future Surrey website.

Following a debate on Councillor Austin’s motion, a vote was taken as follows:

For – 6

Against – 8

Abstain – 1

The motion FELL

Following further debate, a vote on the substantive motion to create a Constitution Working Group was taken as follows:

For 9

Against 6

Councillors Austin, Hulley, Hughes, Mann, Mullens and O’Brien, who voted against the substantive motion requested that their names to be noted in the minutes.

Councillors N Kang and Shaw who voted for the substantive motion requested that their names be noted in the minutes.

The Committee RESOLVED to:

Make a recommendation to Council to:

1.    Disband the established Constitution Sub-Committee of the Standards Committee and note that the Standards Committee will, with immediate effect establish a Constitution Working Group with the same membership and for the same purpose, with the Terms of Reference as in Appendix 1 to this report; and

2.    Delegate to the Monitoring Officer the authority to amend the Constitution to reflect any consequential changes arising from this decision and make arrangements for meetings to be recorded, with an attendance link to be provided to all members and the minutes from each Working Group meeting to be circulated to all members and attached to the papers for the next formal meeting of the Standards Committee.