The Council has honoured 55 local heroes for going above and beyond in their selfless service to the community. The Reigate & Banstead Volunteer Awards, which took place at the Town Hall, recognised individuals and in some cases groups of individuals, for their exemplary volunteering service. Awards were made in five categories, including Young Volunteer Award, Individual Volunteer Award, Individual Trustee Award, Volunteer Team Award, and Long Service Award. You can read more about who was recognised on our website. 

There’s only one month to go until Redhill Arts Takeover and we’re beginning to get excited. If you are just as excited, it’s not too early to start thinking about getting involved. Are you a singer? We’re looking for individuals and groups to be part of a People’s Choir and a special flash mob performance of Redhill Rising. You can download the materials from the Franklin Music website and start practising now. You can also help curate a poetry town trail by telling us about your favourite poems – just email arts@reigate-banstead.gov.uk. If you’re interested in fashion and sustainability, we’re looking for models and designers to be part of the Recycled Fashion Show - a fantastic and fashionable idea built around turning everyday junk into wearable funk.

Our school holiday programme got underway on 23 July and will run until 28 August, offering low-cost fun activities at various locations across the borough. Creative highlights include a half-day Film School or a 3-day Aladdin-themed musical theatre workshop. For those wanting to get active, there's Athletix Kidz, pickleball, trampolining, and a lot more to choose from. And for something a bit different, you could try circus skills, Jam Coding or a bug hunt. Spaces are still available, so take a look and book today. If you're in receipt of benefits, have a looked after child or are a young carer, you may be eligible for a 50% discount. Please email leisure.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk with proof of benefit entitlement.

Priory Park and Redhill Memorial Park have once again received the prestigious Green Flag Award, which sets the benchmark for well-managed parks and green spaces, and recognises their importance for people’s wellbeing and quality of life. Congratulations to our Greenspaces team who care for these parks and keep up the high standards that we can all enjoy. Priory Park was praised by the judges as welcoming, well-used and secure. The judges highlighted the wide range of community facilities, including the refurbished cafe and tennis courts. We can also report that in addition to the refurbished tennis courts at Redhill Memorial Park, the new and improved outdoor gym and trim trail are now open for use - so there's plenty to enjoy there too. As reported in our last issue, a refurbishment of the play area is set to follow later in the year.

Cllr Richard Biggs, Leader of the Council, will be available to take your questions on Tuesday 25 August 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

East Surrey shadow authority Leader, Councillor Steve Wotton, has shared the initial vision for the future East Surrey Council ahead April 2027. The vision sets out ambitions to create a council that is open, transparent and genuinely focused on delivering outcomes for residents, businesses and communities. It also highlights a commitment to creating opportunities for people to thrive and ensuring residents receive the support and care they need, when they need it. You can find out more about the East Surrey shadow authority, including information and recordings of past meetings, on the Future Surrey hub.

Funding agreements have been finalised with the 12 Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) organisations that will receive a share of the Council’s Strategic Grants Fund 2026-2028. The Fund, which contributes towards core costs for VCFS organisations, helps us achieve our vision of a council that ‘enables communities to thrive and provides support to those in need’ (as set out in our 2025 - 2030 Corporate Plan). Three organisations are receiving Strategic Grant funding for the first time. They include the African Community in Surrey and Sussex, Surrey Welfare Rights Unit and The Include Project with each receiving a minimum of £5,000. 

Work is set to start on a new Local Plan for Reigate & Banstead, setting out how the borough should grow and thrive to 2044. The plan will guide where new homes, businesses and environmental improvements should go, while protecting valued green spaces, heritage and local character. It will also ensure that everyday facilities and services which communities rely on such as schools, health services and transport links are put in place to support new development. A robust plan is the best way to maintain control over speculative development. We have published our ‘notice of intention to commence’ - the first official step in the plan-making process - and a timetable showing when you can have your say to help shape the plan. We encourage you to sign up to our Local Plan newsletter for updates.

We’re inviting 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. The funds come from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) - a charge on developers of new homes and businesses to help fund infrastructure, facilities and services. A portion of this funding is used to fund small local projects identified by the community in the neighbourhoods where development has taken place. If your local village hall needs improving, the route to your school or local shops needs upgrading or your shopping parade needs new benches, submit a bid. 

Want to have a say in future elections? Look out for an email, text or form from us asking you to check your electoral registration details. Make sure to follow the instructions we’ve sent as soon as possible so that you don’t risk losing your chance to vote. The annual canvass is currently underway, which helps us to keep the electoral register up to date and invite people to register to vote if they aren’t already. Elections for parish and town councils will take place in May 2026, so this is an important opportunity to make sure you can take part.

A by-election for a Borough Councillor in the Hooley, Merstham and Netherne Ward will be held on 6 August 2026. Electors can vote for one candidate only. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on the day. If you're voting by post, remember to return your postal vote in time.

If you are voting in person or as someone's proxy, make sure to:

• bring acceptable photo ID
• take your poll card with you if you can
• check your poll card before going to vote in case your polling station has changed
• ask polling station staff for help if you need it
• leave plenty of time to vote before the polls close

The count and declaration of results will take place on Friday 7 August 2026.

Would you like to work with us? We are currently recruiting for a housing support co-ordinator, an HGV mechanic, an HGV driver and a streetsweeper. If you are interested in any of these roles, please take a look at our current vacancies page and apply. 

We’re planning to renew the Redhill Town Centre PSPO and are running a public consultation until 23 August 2026 to hear from local residents, businesses and visitors about its impact. PSPOs give local councils and police additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in specific locations. They must be reviewed at least every three years.

The Redhill Town Centre PSPO was introduced in 2017 and covers the pedestrianised shopping area, Redhill Memorial Park and the area around the pedestrian railway underpass. When it was last renewed in 2023 this area was extended to include the Clarendon Road car park.

We are seeking views from residents, landlords and property owners on proposed planning controls for small Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The Article 4 direction would remove permitted development rights so that properties can no longer be converted into small HMOs (shared homes or bedsits) for three to six residents without a full planning application. HMOs provide an important source of lower-cost housing, so these proposals are not about preventing them but would ensure that the Council can properly consider their location, design, accommodation standards, including  any potential impact on neighbours and communities before conversions take place. The consultation runs from 30 July to 24 September 2026.

We understand your priority is the delivery of the services you rely on, and that's exactly where our focus is as we prepare for the new council. At the same time, every organisation needs a clear branding identity, so people know who is delivering their services and where to go for information and support. That's why East Surrey and West Surrey councils will need their own new brands.

We'd like you to help us shape the East Surrey brand from the very beginning, so it reflects the people and communities it will serve. Take our short survey and tell us what matters to you when creating the new East Surrey brand. The work is being carried out at minimal cost and the new brands are being developed by designers already working within Surrey's councils, at no additional cost. This is just the start. There will be more opportunities for residents to help shape their new councils as plans develop. The survey closes on 3 August.

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.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service have been fighting a number of wildfires in recent weeks. We can all play our part in keeping Surrey prepared and help protect our beautiful countryside in this continued spell of hot dry weather. Please remember to:

• Take your litter home with you, especially glass
• Swap a BBQ for a picnic
• Do not light campfires or bonfires
• Dispose of cigarettes properly