Work starts this week to remove the existing outdoor gym and trim trail in preparation for installing the new fitness kit. The carefully selected equipment will provide a full body workout and users will be able to download an optional fitness app to be their personal trainer. The free-to-use new gym and trim trail should be open by late July.

Work is also underway to procure a contractor for the new play area. Local families and park visitors have shared their ideas for new play equipment and we expect to be able to let you know more about the refurbishment in the autumn. All works are funded through the community infrastructure levy (a charge that local authorities can set on new development to help fund local facilities and services).

Congratulations to our Fraud and Financial Investigation Team which is a finalist in this year’s Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV) awards. The team has been shortlisted for the Excellence in Protecting the Public Purse award. The IRRV awards recognise excellence, innovation and best practices across local taxation, welfare benefits, and property valuation within the public and private sectors. Winners of the award will be revealed at the IRRV annual conference on 30 September 2026.

We're excited to reveal the line-up for this year's Arts Takeover, which promises to entertain, inspire and surprise visitors to Redhill between 5 and 12 September. Headliners include Blur drummer, Dave Rowntree; 80s ska band, Potato 5; and author of the Rivers of London series, Ben Aaronovitch. 

There will be plenty of homegrown talent on show too, along with opportunities to take part and join in. The Redhill Arts Takeover sees artists, performers and local organisations come together to celebrate creativity and connect local communities. During the week-long festival, more than 30 events will take over venues across the town and bring art and culture out onto the streets. Many performances are completely free to enjoy.

We're encouraging residents, organisations and local community groups to submit bids for a share of money raised from new developments to spend on projects to improve their local area. When new development is built, developers pay a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), to help fund infrastructure, facilities and services needed to support the cumulative impact of new homes and businesses. A proportion of this funding is used to fund small local projects, identified by the community, in the neighbourhoods where development has taken place. If you think, for example, your local community hall needs improving, the route to your school or local shops needs upgrading or your local village centre needs new benches, be sure to submit a bid.

The inaugural meeting of the Shadow Cabinet Executive for the new East Surrey Council took place on Monday 8 June, marking an important milestone in the transition to the county’s new unitary arrangements. Following the May 2026 local elections, two shadow authorities have now been established to prepare for the creation of East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council. The newly elected councillors are currently serving in a ‘shadow’ capacity, focusing on building the foundations of the new councils ahead of their official launch on 1 April 2027. Preparations include agreeing the councils' structure, appointing senior officers, setting governance arrangements, approving budgets and the constitution, and deciding how the councils will operate.

Cllr Mus Tary, who represented Hooley, Merstham and Netherne ward, sadly passed away last month. Loved and respected by many, Cllr Tary was also Executive Member for Housing and Support, sat on the Partner, Shareholder and Trustee Executive Sub-Committee and was a substitute for the Planning Committee and Standards Committee. Our thoughts are with his wife, family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

A by-election for the seat held by Cllr Tary will take place on on 6 August.

Cllr Richard Biggs, Leader of the Council, will be available to take your questions, on Tuesday 28 July 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

Would you like to work with us? We continue to recruit for various positions, including a Technology Services Manager and various roles within our Greenspaces team. If you are interested in any of the roles we currently need to fill, please get in touch as we would like to hear from you. Take a look at our current vacancies page and apply.

We want to hear your ideas for a new town park at Tanyard Meadows to create more opportunities for sport, play, enjoying green spaces in Horley. We want the new park to be an inclusive space that is welcoming and accessible and offers high-quality facilities to support a range of activities. We have developed early-stage design ideas for the park, and we now want to hear from the community about what you would like to see included. Share your views by 12 July 2026.

We are holding drop-in session at Tanyard Meadows on Saturday 11 July so residents can speak to the project team, ask questions and tell us your ideas for the new park. We'll be at Orchard Playground, Brookfield Drive, Horley from 12.30 to 3.30pm. (Should the weather be unsuitable for an outdoor event, we’ll relocate to Trinity Oaks Primary School.)

This Is My Theatre are back by popular demand with a new production of F Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'. Featuring live music and a dynamic ensemble, this adaptation invites audiences to experience one of literature’s best-loved stories like never before - it's glamorous, grandiose and undeniably ... Great. Step into the Castle Grounds and into the roaring 1920s. Bring a chair or a blanket and a picnic!

Our REECH Creative Programme helps people in Tadworth and the surrounding areas to improve their health and wellbeing through creative activities. 'REECH' stands for Relax, Engage, Experience, Create, Hydrate emotionally. Our Arts Development Officer works with local organisations and venues to develop and deliver workshops and events. The free and inclusive activities currently available include art, creative writing and dance. Over the summer, there are beginners courses in surreal acrylic and collage or sketching. The creative writing programme and rhythm and movement dance social take place monthly. 

We know that drowning increases during heatwaves, so when very hot weather is forecast its even more important to know how to Float to Live. If you’re in trouble in the water, Float To Live could save your life:

• tilt your head back with ears submerged
• relax and try to control your breathing
• use your hands to help you stay afloat
• it’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently.

You can practise floating at as supervised location, such as a swimming pool.

While football itself does not cause abuse, heightened emotions, alcohol and pressure around key matches can contribute to abuse becoming more frequent or more severe during tournaments like the World Cup. The 'We're in your corner' campaign seeks to raise awareness, encourage conversations, and remind everyone that domestic abuse crosses the line, takes many forms, and is never acceptable.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing abuse, concerned about someone else, or worried about their own behaviour, there is help and guidance out there. You can call Surrey's Domestic Abuse helpline on 01483 776822, provided by Your Sanctuary, or visit the Healthy Surrey website for more information about other support services. 

Southern Building Control Partnership has launched a refreshed website and online application forms as part of its ongoing commitment to improving customer experience and responding to stakeholder feedback. The updated website provides clearer guidance, easier navigation and improved access to Building Control information, helping architects, designers, builders, developers and property owners access services more efficiently.