At a Full Council held on Thursday 12 February at the Town Hall, Reigate & Banstead approved a balanced budget for 2026/27. As part of this budget setting, councillors agreed to freeze the Borough's portion of Council Tax. A balanced budget was achieved primarily by generating efficiency savings and without any cuts to statutory or non-statutory services. Savings are being made, including contractual savings, changes in funding staff posts and ending physical publication of the resident magazine, Borough News. The Council is also making some changes to the fees and charges it collects.

On Friday 13 February, an order that removes the ability to automatically convert ground floor commercial premises - like shops, restaurants, banks and laundrettes - to residential properties in the borough’s towns and local centres came into force. The Article 4 direction withdraws permitted development rights for such schemes. From now on a full planning application must be made so that the Council can consider the impact of the proposals before any conversion can take place. The aim is to protect shops and services and keep them open and serving their local communities.

Arts Takeover will be back one month earlier than usual to celebrate art and culture in and around Redhill. The week-long festival provides a feel-good, cultural boost to the town through a vibrant programme of free and low-cost performances; and it inspires people to get creative themselves. This year we're calling for writers and performers from across East Surrey to take part in a brand new initiative to showcase stories from fresh local voices to be performed on the opening day - Saturday 5 September. Other highlights already confirmed include a special performance of original song, Redhill Rising, and a return of the hotly contested Battle of the Bands. 

On Thursday 7 May 2026, Reigate & Banstead residents will have the opportunity to vote for the councillors they want to represent them on the new East Surrey Council. The new council, effective from 1 April 2027, will be responsible for delivering all council services across the geographic areas of Reigate & Banstead, Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley and Tandridge. 

Councillors elected in May 2026 will serve for five years, until May 2031. Initially they will work as part of a ‘shadow authority’ alongside existing councils to set up the new East Surrey Council, including developing budgets and service plans, structures and governance arrangements.

You will need to be registered to be able to vote. If you aren't already registered, you can do so online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. The deadline to register for these elections is midnight on 20 April 2026. You can vote in person, by post or by proxy (when you appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf). You can find all you need to know to get ready to vote on 7 May on the elections pages of the Future Surrey website.

Cllr Richard Biggs, Leader of the Council, will be available to take your questions, on Tuesday 24 March between 4pm and 6pm. If you have questions and/or ideas that you would like to put to him, this is your opportunity. Appointments must be pre-booked and can either be virtual or in-person. You have to be a resident or work in the borough to get an appointment. To book, please email: leadersurgery@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

The programme to refurbish all our tennis courts is underway. New surfacing and fencing is progressing well and has been completed at Woodmansterne Recreation Ground and Lady Neville Park. The colour coating and line marking of the courts is due to begin towards the end of March; and the new posts and nets should be in place for the courts to reopen later in the spring. More updates will follow. The refurbishment programme has been funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy (a charge that local authorities can set on new development to help fund infrastructure, facilities and services in the area). 

Work is expected to take place over the next few months to upgrade CCTV cameras across the borough where they are needed most - primarily in town centre areas. The new cameras will record high-quality targeted images, which will be stored and available on request for 30 days. These will be in addition to the cameras that were upgraded in 2023 in the borough’s three most popular parks and two car parks.

The Great British Spring Clean is back and will take place from 13 to 29 March. Run by Keep Britain Tidy, it is the nation's biggest mass-action environmental campaign. This year marks 10 years since the campaign was launched - a period over which thousands of litter heroes have shown how much they love where they live by picking more than 4.5 million bags of litter. If you are planning to organise a community litter pick, please let us know so we can help you publicise your event, support you with equipment, and collect your bags. You can also make a pledge on the Keep Britain Tidy website.

We are recruiting for a Reserve Driver. If this is a role you are interested in, please take a look at our current vacancies page and apply.

On Friday 6 March the winners of the R&B Sports Awards will be announced. We received more than 100 nominations across 11 award categories and the shortlisted finalists have been invited to a special awards evening at the Reigate Manor Hotel. Thank you to everyone who nominated an individual or team for an award; and thank you to our award sponsors who will be presenting the winners with their awards on the night (Aberdour School, Better Leisure Centres, Connick Tree Care, Little Kickers, PM Active, Reigate Priory Cricket Club, RETHINK, RLM Locksmiths, Run Reigate, Surrey Playing Fields and YMCA East Surrey). Good luck to all the finalists.  

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council was one of seven local authorities shortlisted for the Local Authority of the Year Award. It was a strong field and a fantastic achievement to receive the runner up award. It’s a recognition of the pioneering work to bring together over 30 organisations to create the Safer Redhill parthership, combining grant funding with wider leveraged investment to align public, voluntary and private efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime in the town. Successful targeted police operations, youth engagement and communications campaigns were all praised.

From the award-winning Farnham Maltings, All For Your Delight is a sparkling new theatre experience that celebrates variety and the world of live entertainers. The production on Wednesday 4 March will be taking over The Belfry shopping centre in Redhill. You'll meet the Brightcoats, who are on a mission to give you and your family the best darn night out you've had in years - with comedy, music, magic and games. Expect glitter, gags and a good time! Tickets cost £18 (£9 for 10 to 16 year olds) and can be booked through our website.

This Is My Theatre returns to the borough this month and next with a production of Charlotte Bronte's timeless classic, 'Jane Eyre'. A great opportunity to see passion, mystery, and resilience collide in this sweeping story of self-discovery and courage - all brought to life in a bold new adaptation with traditional folk music woven throughout. Performances will take place at the Town Hall in Reigate on Friday 6 March at 5pm, and Wednesday 8 April at 7.30pm. Tickets are selling fast so book now to avoid disappointments.

Home-Start East Surrey (a local charity supporting families with young children) are turning up the heat for charity! They have organised a charity fundraiser so people can get sponsored to walk on hot coals. An opportunity to conquer your fears, step on coals and have fun all whilst raising money for a great cause. The event is scheduled for 7pm on Thursday 19 March at Old Reigatians Rugby Club, Reigate RH2 8JX. Spots are limited so prior registration is advised. To register, please email: firewalk@home-starteastsurrey.org.uk You are also welcome to come down, watch and cheer on those taking part.

Supporting someone through domestic abuse can be confusing, emotionally draining, and isolating. You may worry about saying the wrong thing, keeping them safe, or knowing where your boundaries are. Supporters often need support too.

ESDAS run a monthly online support group on the first Monday of every month (7pm to 8pm) for family members, friends or colleagues. This confidential Zoom support group facilitated by a trained counsellor, offers a safe and understanding space to share concerns and experiences. It is also an opportunity to learn how to support someone safely and effectively, ask questions and feel less alone.

The Community Foundation for Surrey (CFSurrey) has launched its winter fundraising appeal to support young people transitioning out of the care system. With nearly 1,000 children currently in care and over 750 young people leaving care, the funds will help care leavers stay in education or training, receive trauma-informed support, access mental health counselling, and build the skills and stability they need to thrive. This is a critical time for these young people 20% of whom are not in education or training, and 11% in unsuitable accommodation. The Foundation aims to raise £25,000 to support this vital work, and thanks to match funding, every £1 donated will be doubled thereby maximising donors’ impact.

While farm visits are brilliant family fun, animals can carry germs that cause illness in people. Sometimes these are serious, especially for young children and pregnant women. Even healthy animals can carry these germs without showing symptoms. If you or your children develop sickness or diarrhoea within two weeks of a farm visit, contact your GP or call NHS 111. If anyone has bloody diarrhoea, seek immediate medical attention.

Pregnant women should take extra care, as some animal-borne infections can harm both mother and baby.