Council leader to discuss SEN and devolution

Special educational needs provision and local government reorganisation will be among the topics discussed when Surrey County Council's leader answers questions on BBC Radio Surrey.

Tim Oliver will appear on the hot seat on the breakfast show on Wednesday from 09:00 BST.

The council's provision for children with additional needs has been previously criticised, with the cabinet member responsible saying the authority was "resolute" in its ambition to improve.

Its children's services department was rated "good" on Friday, after "inadequate" ratings in 2015 and 2018.

Listen to the BBC Radio Surrey breakfast show from 06:00 - 10:00, Monday to Friday, on BBC Radio Surrey or on BBC Sounds.

The council submitted plans to central government earlier in May for how local government could look in the future with fewer, larger councils responsible for services.

Surrey County Council, supported by Elmbridge Borough Council and Mole Valley District Council, is proposing that two new councils are created, with one in the east and another in the west.

Elections that were due to take place in 2025 in Surrey have been postponed until 2026 as part of the devolution plans.

Oliver has been the leader of the county council since 2018, and is a councillor for the Weybridge division.

In 2024, he was awarded an OBE for services to local government.

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