Tim Oliver: Surrey County Council will leave a legacy of which the Conservatives can be proud

Cllr Tim Oliver is the Leader of Surrey County Council.

In many ways, it is a shame that Surrey County Council is earmarked for closure, as recent years have seen a significant improvement in our services. There is a legacy that the Conservative administration can be proud of, and one we will be building on when the replacement authorities come into effect.

In my time as Leader, over the last six years, local government across the country has faced unprecedented challenges – Covid, an energy crisis, high inflation, multiple changes of government, squeezed public finances, more unpredictable climate changes, global instability.

Councils, delivering front line services and often the bottom of the government’s priority list, have borne the brunt of many of these challenges – Surrey is no different.

However, while many councils have buckled under the pressure, made risky decisions, or lacked the stability or resilience to cope, Surrey County Council has a record to be proud of.

Ofsted have recently inspected our Children’s Services and after years of being judged as inadequate or “requires improvement”, we are now rated as “Good” – with their report highlighting that “leaders have been relentless and successful in their quest to improve the quality and consistency of social work practice in Surrey”.

Our Adult Social Care services are also considered to be “Good” by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission, with specific praise for our focus on supporting people to lead independent lives in their own homes and communities.   These two gradings are no mean feat in a council the size of Surrey.

The council has now achieved a state of financial stability through a dedicated and laser-focused approach to managing its finances, coupled with the implementation of strong transformation programmes.

By prioritising financial discipline and accountability, we have been able to identify inefficiencies, reduce unnecessary expenditures, and optimise resource allocation effectively. Our rigorous focus has allowed for better budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.

The introduction of robust transformation initiatives has been instrumental in driving long-term improvements. These programmes have modernised operational processes, embraced innovation, and enhanced service delivery, ensuring that limited resources are used more efficiently and sustainably.

These improvements have been achieved with a simple guiding vision – that no one is left behind – and despite the fact that the council is coming to an end, we are not stopping there.

Surrey has over 16,000 children with Education Health and Care Plans – one of the highest numbers in the country, and whilst the vast majority of those children and their families are in high-quality education, and happy with their support, we know the system is challenging. We know that there are families – in this county, and every other – that are hugely frustrated with the system and are frankly not getting the support they feel they need for their children.

That’s why we identified issues within SEND and invested an additional £15m into a three-year multi-agency recovery plan. We have recruited more professionals in shortage areas, like educational psychologists; have built – and are building – new specialist school places in the county – investing over £211m, improving specialist education in mainstream schools; expanding specialist school provision and creating new special free schools, adding 2,404 places for children with additional needs and disabilities; improving existing facilities, equivalent to 633 places.

Surrey’s EHCP timeliness is now well above the national average – reaching over 90 per cent in recent months, and we will continue to review every single aspect of the SEND system within our control to ensure that residents are supported as much as possible.

Moving forward, Surrey will be one of the first beneficiaries of local government reorganisation. Our submission, about to go out to consultation, dissolves the County Council and eleven Districts, replacing them with new unitary authorities – unlocking mayoral devolution on a Surrey footprint.

Surrey has been a Conservative stronghold for over 100 years, reflecting a long-standing tradition of stable and effective leadership. It is more important than ever for residents to reflect on the value of experienced governance.

Under Conservative leadership, we have consistently delivered high-quality local services, maintained financial stability, and driven positive change through strategic planning and investment. Our focus remains on serving communities with integrity, ensuring that residents receive the support, infrastructure, and services they rely on every day.

It is the Conservatives who will be able to use our experience of creating a successful and strong local Council who will be best placed to build these new authorities from the ground up. Relationships with partner agencies across health, local government, community safety, and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations will have a sound footing thanks to the efforts of the current administration – giving future authorities a strong base from which to work.