Morning. Councillors voted down a motion to explore a dedicated roadworks officer last night, 32 to one; the administration says it already has five staff on roadworks and a sixth on the way. The housing regulator has found serious failings in how much the council knows about the condition of its 4,500 homes. The buses are off Surbiton Hill Road for a fourth day. Then a correction, the roads and the rest of the week.

The Conservative motion asking the council to explore a dedicated roadworks officer was defeated by 32 votes to one last night, with four abstentions. Councillor Ian George, who moved it, argued that the coming lane rental scheme will cover only a few of the busiest roads. Deputy leader Nicola Nardelli replied that the council already has two network coordinators, two street works inspectors and a street works manager, that lane rental, which charges utilities to dig up the busiest roads, brings a further officer, and that its trial starts next month and goes fully live in January. Councillor Tom Reeve, who chairs the Surbiton neighbourhood committee, said UK Power Networks had dug 'a 13 kilometre trench through the middle of the borough', including Hook Road, Lamberts Road, Villiers Avenue and Ditton Road, and that if the Conservatives want a roadworks officer they should 'put it in a costed budget amendment in February'.

The constitution changes that take planning decisions away from the neighbourhood committees from 31 October, as the new Planning and Infrastructure Act requires, passed 34 to nil, with four abstentions. The 1,241-signature petition to end plastic in Kingston Cemetery brought no new ban or enforcement: the council says plastic fencing and decorations are already against its regulations and it will put up signs rather than enforce, and a bid to go further lost 33 to 2. Counts and quotes are from the webcast; the minutes aren't out yet.

The Regulator of Social Housing has given Kingston Council a C3 grade, its first, for its roughly 4,500 council homes: serious failings, significant improvement needed. The failing is knowledge. The council doesn't hold accurate, up-to-date information on the condition of most of its homes: its last survey, in 2020-21, didn't go inside every one, and a new survey, due to finish within 18 months, had covered 15% of homes when the inspectors visited. The council itself reports 16% of its homes below the Decent Homes Standard, or 10% once homes just improved or awaiting demolition are left out. The regulator says the council meets its legal health and safety duties and runs an effective repairs service, though it flags weaknesses in communal repairs, complaints handling and the tracking of safety fixes, and it is not proposing enforcement. The council says it welcomed the inspection and accepts the areas needing improvement, and that the full survey of its homes will take the next 18 months.

TfL still has the 406, 418, K1 and K4 off Surbiton Hill Road this morning, with the Maplehurst Close and Hollyfield School stops closed; its notice hasn't been touched since Sunday. Helen says Saturday night's Maple Road fire was in one of the houses opposite the old Assembly Rooms, now part of Surbiton High, at the Surbiton Hill Road end of the road. I can't find anything official that links it to the diversion, or that says whether cars can get through. If you've driven it this week, reply.

The Lamb's own listing has Max From Greece and The Flavonoids at 8 on Thursday, not Elsie Franklin as I had it on Monday and Tuesday; it has her on Sunday 25 October.

Hook Road: UK Power Networks has a lane closed in both directions at Trewenna Drive, Chessington, until 23 October; its emergency lane closure northbound at Clayton Road runs to tomorrow night. On Tolworth Rise South, the lane and lights eastbound at Southwood Drive, for emergency Thames Water and Virgin Media works, are due to finish tonight.

Tonight: Page to Stage at the cornerHOUSE, new plays read script in hand, 7.30, £10 to £12, and again tomorrow. Regency dancing with Mrs Bennet's Ballroom at St Mark's hall, 8 to 10, £6. A bright, chilly start, then rather warm with patchy cloud and light winds, 19; cloudy and mild overnight.

Thursday: the weekly community pantry at Surbiton Library, 2 to 5 or until the shelves empty, free. Max From Greece at the Lamb, 8. Dry and rather warm, cloud breaking to some sunshine later, 22.

Friday: Hollyfield and Surbiton High break up for two weeks. Poetry at the cornerHOUSE, doors 7 for 7.30, £6 with a cheese buffet. Rain first thing, clearing to sunny spells and the odd shower; cooler and breezy, 16.

Added to the weekend since Monday: on Saturday, Hook's schools association holds its first musical bingo at Hook Junior School hall, 3 to 5, £5 a head, pre-schoolers free, and Kirris Riviere plays the Lamb at 7.30. Sunny spells and the odd shower, 14. On Sunday, Joao Mello plays the Lamb at 5, the Elm Tree's quiz is at 7.30 (free, £50 bar tab) and the Antelope's at 7.30, and Kingston Orchard Project runs a grow-your-own session at Knollmead allotments in Tolworth from 2 to 4. Also 14.

And: Shrewsbury House School in Surbiton says it has been named best prep school in the Tatler Schools Awards. Reuters filmed last Sunday's Ski Sunday and said Surbiton 'became the capital of British eccentricity' for the day; the clip ran as far as Bangkok. Thanks to Helen for that one.

Back tomorrow.

Mike