Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2025 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2025 were agreed as a correct record of proceedings.

To receive any disclosures of interest from Councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

The Chair, or their nominee, to answer any questions raised by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 40.

At the time of publication of this agenda no questions were received.

There were none.

Committee is asked to consider the contents of the report and note progress with ongoing work to deal with HMOs and the planned next steps.

The Committee received an update from the Environmental Health Department on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Following a rise in applications for HMOs within the borough and allegations of unlicenced HMOs, an action plan was being developed to address the control and oversight of HMOs within the borough. A cross-departmental project team was established to review powers, increase resourcing where needed, and coordinate action to deal with unlicensed and unlawful HMOs and address anti-social behaviour issues arising from those properties. Future steps include robust enforcement action against non-compliant landlords, work to clear the backlog of HMO licence applications, the formation of a Landlords Forum, and a proposed supplementary planning document.

Some members of the Committee expressed concern over the amount of information required for enforcement action to take place, but it was noted that not all issues arising from properties fell within the Council’s remit to address. The Committee acknowledged the backlog of work and resourcing challenges. Timelines to address the backlog were suggested, however this was difficult to provide due to the difference in time needed to deal with each case.

The Committee resolved to note progress with ongoing work to deal with HMOs and the planned next steps.

Committee is asked to consider the Annual Grant Awards for 2026/27.

Report to follow.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Recommend to Council to agree to the recommendations of the Grants Panel regarding the proposed recipients of the 2026/2027 community grants

2.    Note the significant decrease in grant budget for 2026/2027

3.    Note the other support that Spelthorne Borough Council provides to the voluntary/charity sector

4.    Note that any underspend from the Council Grants budget and Better Neighbourhood Grants will not be carried forward to the next financial year

5.    Note that the Panel have recommended that there will be no award to sport and art agencies due to the budget cut

6.    Recommend that the underspend of £3,400 in 2025/2026 is awarded in 2025/2026 to a charity offering mental health support to young people, and that £2,000 is awarded to a charity providing a river based social activity for those with disabilities.

The Committee considered recommending that Council agree the recommendations of the Grants Panel regarding the proposed recipients of the 2026/2027 community grants. The grants budget had been significantly reduced from previous years due to a projected budget gap, and there was an underspend from 2025/2026 that the Grants Panel recommended be split between two charities as it could not be carried forward.

The Committee noted that though the grants budget had been reduced, councillors had the option to utilise their Better Neighbourhood Grants towards charities. The Committee recommended that councillors with leftover Better Neighbourhood Grants be contacted and advised of charities that their grants could go towards. Some members of the Committee expressed concern over the reduction in grant budget, and were advised that the amount was in line with grants budgets at other Surrey authorities, and the reduction met the Best Value Directions to ensure the Council’s future financial sustainability.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Recommend to Council to agree to the recommendations of the Grants Panel regarding the proposed recipients of the 2026/2027 community grants

2.    Note the significant decrease in grant budget for 2026/2027

3.    Note the other support that Spelthorne Borough Council provides to the voluntary/charity sector

4.    Note that any underspend from the Council Grants budget and Better Neighbourhood Grants will not be carried forward to the next financial year

5.    Note that the Panel have recommended that there will be no award to sport and art agencies due to the budget cut

6.    Recommend that the underspend of £3,400 in 2025/2026 is awarded in 2025/2026 to a charity offering mental health support to young people, and that £2,000 is awarded to a charity providing a river based social activity for those with disabilities.

In accordance with Standing Order 21.6, Councillor Buck requested his vote against all the recommendations be recorded. Councillors Bateson and Doran abstained from the vote as they both were members of the Grants Panel.

Committee is asked to

1.    Review the draft detailed revenue budget for 2026/27 for the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee and agree any amendments

2.    Review the draft capital budget for 2026/27 for Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee, and

3.    Recommend to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee to approve the proposed detailed Revenue Budget and Capital Programme proposals for the Committee.

Report to follow.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

To consider the Forward Plan for committee business.

The Committee received the forward plan for future Committee business.

Councillor Bateson proposed that “Eclipse Leisure Centre Monitoring” be added as a regular item on the committee’s agenda for the Committee to receive progress updates. The Committee agreed this proposal.

The Committee resolved to note the forward plan, subject to the inclusion of the proposed item.

To move the exclusion of the Press/Public for the following items, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 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.

As the remainder of the items of the agenda had been withdraw, the public and press did not need to be excluded.

Committee is asked to consider the Service Plans for the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.