Spelthorne 2024-25 year in review

Spelthorne finances

Spelthorne Borough Council continuously delivers a balanced budget. This year the Council's commercial property portfolio generated approximately £49 million, which comfortably covers the cost of interest and paying down the loans, which were fixed at 2.35% for the duration of the entire loan until the debt is fully paid off. It also made £10 million net contribution to the Revenue Budget for the Borough, exceeding the income stream we receive from Council Tax. Funds from the commercial property portfolio is spent on front line services and enables us to put some money away.  In total, the reserves of the Council stand at approximately £73 million which includes sinking fund reserves of £36 million and developer funds of £10 million.

Over the last nine years, since the creation of the commercial property portfolio in 2016 the gross income generated is £330 million and of that more than £60 million has directly subsidised the running of key services, including community centres, meals on wheels, parks maintenance, community transport and grants to voluntary organisations, helping us support our communities.

An external independent review of the commercial property portfolio was undertaken by JLL, who determined the Council is managing its investment portfolio in a forward looking way and that the portfolio was best in class and well positioned for the future.

What have we achieved in the last year

Over the last 12-months we have been focused on achieving our commitments and priorities. We are proud to serve Spelthorne and represent our residents. At the start of last year, a new Corporate Plan was launched, putting our residents at the heart of everything we do. Always optimistic for what we achieve, aiming high, constantly learning and innovating.

• opened the award-winning Eclipse Leisure Centre - the world's largest Passivhaus leisure centre
• largest government (LAHF) housing programme delivered of any District or Borough Council in the UK, delivering 82 homes for those in need
• received above Local Government Association benchmarks for a Residents' survey in delivering value for money, trust, service delivery and keeping residents informed
• secured £994,883from Sports England,the single largest award of its type in the UK, for energy efficiency measures (solar and heat pumps) at Sunbury Leisure Centre
• helped over 1,000 residents into employment at our jobs and skills hub
• completed Local Plan examination, protecting the Borough for future generations
• completed an external Corporate Establishment review which concluded Spelthorne is a high performing authority, constantly reviewing, achieving cost efficiencies and at the forefront of transformational innovation
• introduced electric Spelride bus and mopedvehicles, adding to our electric fleet of pool cars
• prevented over 200 households from homelessness and supported 150 residentsinto private rented sector accommodation
• received a Surrey Police award for tackling anti-social behaviour
• supporting nearly 3,000 residents with hospital discharges and provided nearly 50 residents with a hoarding support service
• national awards for our park sand open spaces in South & South East in Bloom awards and Green Flag
• £1.3m funding secured for environmental projects and a ground breaking solar canopy car park which will create energy directly for Eclipse Leisure Centre
• £191k provided to local voluntary groups to support our communities
• co-ordinated £1.2m of grant funding to support Homes for Ukraine programme
• in the top 10% of UK authorities in completing home adaptations for residents via Disabled Facilities Grants
• undertook a full staff survey in partnership with the LGA/Kenetiq which recorded the highest result for overall satisfaction obtained from any Council since the research programme started in 2012.
• completed 98% of Energy Performance Certificate surveys for Council sites in the commercial portfolio
• provided a bespoke service for survivors of Domestic Abuse in partnership with North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service
• 42,989 Meals on Wheels delivered and provided 36,000 health and wellbeing activities at our community centres
• Celebrated the achievements of 47 young people at the Spelthorne Youth Awards
• launched a Citizens Panel to help shape the borough's Design Code
• installed three new inclusive play areas for children and two new wildflower meadows
• secured over £300k via our Spelthorne Healthy Communities Partnership to support residents facing health concerns
• installed CCTV cameras in Sunbury and implemented a Public Space Protection Order to stop misuse of public land.
• delivered £546,000 from the Household Support Fund to support households with the challenges of increases in the costs of living
• secured new planning regulations for Houses of Multiple Occupation
• 100% occupancy at the Spelthorne Business Hub
• celebrated local talent at the Spelthorne Business Awards and 10th Business Plan Competition
• adopted a new Air Quality Action Plan and Climate Change Planning Document

Learning organisation - we may think big, but we deliver locally

Looking at the last year and beyond, our innovative approach can also be demonstrated through a number of initiatives:

• 25 affordable homes in the West Wing of the Council offices - making Spelthorne Council the first UK local authority to convert over 40% of its active Civic Town Hall into homes for residents on the housing waiting list
• became an accredited bronze carbon literacy organisation, ensuring staff and Councillors are carbon literate, and soon to be silver accredited
• ensured best practise in public sector with project officers achieving Prince 2 certification
• introduced a Climate Commitment Charter, ensuring carbon impacts are measured with our suppliers
• over 65 affordable homes built in the Borough, offering residents an opportunity to embrace a new life in Spelthorne
• finding new ways to grow our talent with internships, apprenticeships and partnering with local schools and colleges to offer work experience placements
• continue the Transformation Programme and measure outcomes with a total project saving expected in 2027/2028 of £1.1 million
• Harper House for homeless families and the White House for single homeless individuals, supporting over 50 residents in need
• explored new ways to engage with our residents with Spelthorne Partnership Assembly while continuing to drive up self-service and digital platforms by 34%
• became one of the first authorities in the UK to set up a food and welfare network to support residents who are struggling to afford food

We are successfully delivering our Corporate Plan which sets out this Council's priorities to deliver services for our residents and businesses, making this community stronger, healthier, safer and greener.