How the Council is run

Tandridge District Council has 43 council seats, representing 18 wards. One councillor is elected to each seat to look after the interests of the district.

The political balance of the Council is 20 Residents' Alliance, 11 Liberal Democrats, 7 Conservative and 5 Independent Group councillors.

The political balance before the election on 2 May 2024 was 18 Residents’ Alliance, 11 Liberal Democrats, 9 Conservatives and 4 Independent Group councillors

Committees

There are eight main committees which councillors attend. These carry out the detailed business of the council. Council agendas and minutes are published online.

They are also available at our offices.

Council constitution

The Council's constitution sets out:

How the Council operates.
Standing orders for meetings and general governance.
Financial regulations.
Contract standing orders.
Delegation of powers to committees and officers.
Various codes, schemes and protocols.

Reviews of Tandridge District Council's Constitution - May 2024 to April 2025

Committee date	Details	Full Council ratification
Community Services Committee – 13.06.24 Minute 32 (24/25)	Amendments to the scheme of delegation (Part E) to: delete ‘Pollution Control’ from the Community Services Committee terms of reference add ‘Pollution Control’ to the Planning Policy Committee terms of reference Proposed Change to the Community Services Committee Terms of Reference	18/07/2024
Not applicable – changed made under Standing Order 49	Minor amendments to: replace ‘Management Team’ with ‘Extended Management Team’ throughout; acknowledging the Deputy MO and s151 roles (Para 4.3 of Part A); replace S151 Officer with Director of Resources throughout; and delete references to Chief Planning Officer and updating job titles to ‘Interim Head of Planning (DM)’ throughout the Planning Protocol in Part F	Not applicable – changed made under Standing Order 49
Not applicable – changed made under Standing Order 49	Minor amendment to Standing Order 49 to reflect Monitoring Officer role in make minor amendments to the Constitution	Not applicable – changed made under Standing Order 49
Strategy & Resources Committee – 28.11.24 Minute 180 (24/25)	Amendment to Standing Order 18 to formalise the internal committee report writing process. Proposed change to Standing Order 18 of the Council’s Constitution	19/12/2024
Strategy & Resources Committee – 27.03.25 Minute 274 (24/25)	Amendment to Contract Standing Orders (Part D) to ensure the Council’s compliance with the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024. Procurement Act 2023 – Review of the Council’s Contract Standing Orders	10/04/2025

Reviews of Tandridge District Council's Constitution - May 2023 to April 2024

Committee date	Details	Full Council ratification
A&S – 27.06.23 Minute 67 (23/24)	Arrangements for co-opting an Independent Person onto the A&S Committee were agreed, with the Committee’s terms of reference being amended by the addition of the following clause: “The Committee shall include a co-opted, non-voting Independent Member to serve for a two year period (Minute 67 (2023/24) refers” Independent Person to the A+S Committee.pdf	20/07/2023
S&R - 29.06.23 Minute 79 (23/24)	New Financial Regulations (Part C) - the main changes clarify: the responsibilities of Council and Committees in respect of key strategic financial management activities such as setting and monitoring budgets, the closing of accounts and good governance; the responsibilities of Officers for managing budgets, authorising transactions, safe custody of assets, financial accounting and reporting requirements; and operational procedures associated with the above responsibilities which increase the accountability of Officers for budgetary control and the effective use and custody of other assets for which they are responsible. Improving the Councils Financial Management and reporting arrangements.pdf	20/07/2023
S&R - 29.06.23 Minute 80 (23/24)	Amendments to Contract Standing Orders (Part D) concerning: the award of grants to external organisations; changes to the arrangements for procuring legal advice; and the responsibilities of contract managers regarding risk management. Procurement update and CSOs.pdf	20/07/2023
S&R - 29.06.23 Minute 81 (23/24)	Amendments to the scheme of delegation (Part E) to enable the S&R Committee to resolve matters arising from Polling District reviews. Terms of Reference.pdf	20/07/2023
A&S – 26.09.23	Updated Anti-Fraud Strategy Statement recommended for adoption. Anti-Fraud Strategy Statement.pdf	19/10/2023
Standards – 07.11.23 Minute 152 (23/24)	Review of process for appointing a Standards Hearing Panel contained in the Council’s Arrangements for Dealing with Standards Allegations under the Localism Act 2011. This resulted in paragraph 11.1 of the Arrangements being amended to state: “The Hearings Panel is a Sub-Committee of the Council’s Standards Committee. It will be comprised of three District Councillors serving on the Standards Committee.” This is now consistent with the Constitution, i.e. the scheme of delegation for the Standards Committee (Part F).	14/12/2023
S&R – 30.11.23 Minute 189 (23/24)	Review of Standing Orders for meetings and general governance (Part B). This resulted in amendments to: address anomalies; improve procedures and delete others which are no longer relevant; and enable clearer interpretation and application. Review of Standing Orders.pdf	14/12/2023
S&R – 30.01.24 Minute 232 (23/24)	Amendments to the scheme of delegation (Part E) to: delete reference to ‘Committee Service Plans’ in the terms of reference of the four Policy Committees. empower S&R to rephase budgets within the Council’s capital programme, subject to no impact on borrowing. amend financial thresholds for resolving / recommending disposals of assets. requiring all proposed purchases of land and buildings via the General Fund to be referred to Full Council. Review of delegation of powers to Committees.pdf	8th-Feb-2024
Standards – 09.04.24 Minute 284 (23/24)	Revised Protocol for Member/Officer Relations approved Protocol for Member Officer Relations.pdf	18/04/2024

Committee date

Details

Full Council ratification

A&S – 27.06.23

Minute 67 (23/24)

Arrangements for co-opting an Independent Person onto the A&S Committee were agreed, with the Committee’s terms of reference being amended by the addition of the following clause:

“The Committee shall include a co-opted, non-voting Independent Member to serve for a two year period (Minute 67 (2023/24) refers”

Independent Person to the A+S Committee.pdf

20/07/2023

S&R - 29.06.23

Minute 79 (23/24)

New Financial Regulations (Part C) - the main changes clarify:

the responsibilities of Council and Committees in respect of key strategic financial management activities such as setting and monitoring budgets, the closing of accounts and good governance;

the responsibilities of Officers for managing budgets, authorising transactions, safe custody of assets, financial accounting and reporting requirements; and

operational procedures associated with the above responsibilities which increase the accountability of Officers for budgetary control and the effective use and custody of other assets for which they are responsible.

Improving the Councils Financial Management and reporting arrangements.pdf

20/07/2023

S&R - 29.06.23

Minute 80 (23/24)

Amendments to Contract Standing Orders (Part D) concerning:

the award of grants to external organisations;
changes to the arrangements for procuring legal advice; and
the responsibilities of contract managers regarding risk management.

Procurement update and CSOs.pdf

20/07/2023

S&R - 29.06.23

Minute 81 (23/24)

Amendments to the scheme of delegation (Part E) to enable the S&R Committee to resolve matters arising from Polling District reviews.

Terms of Reference.pdf

20/07/2023

A&S – 26.09.23

Updated Anti-Fraud Strategy Statement recommended for adoption.

Anti-Fraud Strategy Statement.pdf

19/10/2023

Standards – 07.11.23

Minute 152 (23/24)

Review of process for appointing a Standards Hearing Panel contained in the Council’s Arrangements for Dealing with Standards Allegations under the Localism Act 2011. This resulted in paragraph 11.1 of the Arrangements being amended to state:

“The Hearings Panel is a Sub-Committee of the Council’s Standards Committee. It will be comprised of three District Councillors serving on the Standards Committee.”

This is now consistent with the Constitution, i.e. the scheme of delegation for the Standards Committee
(Part F).

14/12/2023

S&R – 30.11.23
Minute 189 (23/24)

Review of Standing Orders for meetings and general governance (Part B). This resulted in amendments to:

address anomalies;
improve procedures and delete others which are no longer relevant; and
enable clearer interpretation and application.

Review of Standing Orders.pdf

14/12/2023

S&R – 30.01.24

Minute 232 (23/24)

Amendments to the scheme of delegation (Part E) to:

delete reference to ‘Committee Service Plans’ in the terms of reference of the four Policy Committees.
empower S&R to rephase budgets within the Council’s capital programme, subject to no impact on borrowing.
amend financial thresholds for resolving / recommending disposals of assets.
requiring all proposed purchases of land and buildings via the General Fund to be referred to Full Council.

Review of delegation of powers to Committees.pdf

8th-Feb-2024

Standards – 09.04.24

Minute 284 (23/24)

Revised Protocol for Member/Officer Relations approved

Protocol for Member Officer Relations.pdf

18/04/2024

Reviews of Tandridge District Council's Constitution - May 2022 to April 2023

Committee date	Details	Full Council ratification
Planning Policy - 22.09.22 Minute 104 (22/23)	Revised planning protocol adopted Planning Protocol.pdf	20/10/2022

Committee date

Details

Full Council ratification

Planning Policy - 22.09.22
Minute 104 (22/23)

Revised planning protocol adopted

Planning Protocol.pdf

20/10/2022

Reviews of Tandridge District Council's Constitution - May 2021 to April 2022

Committee date

Details

Full Council ratification

Standards - 15 March 2021

Minute 298 (20/21)

Adoption of the Local Government Association’s New Model Code of Conduct for Members (Part F).

Member Code of Conduct.pdf

22/04/2021

Full Council – 27.05.21

Minute 7 (21/22)

Review of the Constitution to remove references to remote meetings in light of the Coronavirus Regulations 2020 ceasing to apply from 06.05.21. This resulted in the deletion of ‘virtual meeting’ provisions throughout Standing Orders (Part B) and the removal of the ‘remote meetings protocol’ from Part F.

Amendments to Standing Orders to delete references to virtual meetings.pdf

27/05/2021

S&R – 01.02.22

Minute 259 (21/22)

A report was submitted which highlighted the need to change the Council’s Financial Regulations because the current version did not meet CIPFA standards. It was agreed that the adoption of new Financial Regulations be deferred, pending consideration of a revised version to a future meeting.

Financial Regulations report.pdf

New Financial Regulations were eventually adopted by Full Council on 20.07.23

See 23/24 table

Councillors’ allowances

All councillors receive a taxable allowance of £4,446. Some councillors also receive a special responsibility allowance for certain roles, for example Leader / Deputy Leader of the Council; Leader of the Opposition; Chair / Vice Chair of the Council and certain committees.

Details of councillors’ allowances are published annually.

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