The Council took legal action against zero rated Lee Garden takeaway in Horley after continued very poor food hygiene standards and filthy conditions were found during our Environmental Health checks. The business was fined £20k and the Council received a full award of costs. Keeping people well and upholding high standards is a vital part of the Council’s food safety responsibilities. To help everyone make an informed decision about where to eat or shop, each local food business is given a national hygiene rating from 0 to 5 when it’s inspected by our Environmental Health officers. Prosecution is a very severe last resort, but it’s important that we can - and do - take this final step against businesses that persistently fail to comply, so that you can eat out or order in food with confidence. 

Garden waste members will be able to put their natural Christmas trees out with their garden waste bins during January, once the service resumes from Monday 9 January. If you have not joined our garden waste service, you can take your old Christmas trees to your local Community Recycling Centre (Surrey County Council). Please remove all lights and other decorations before recycling.

The Priory Park play area will be closed from 16 January for up to two weeks whilst new sensory play equipment is installed. Designed to stimulate the senses, the sensory play panels and musical instruments will be part of an inclusive sensory play zone which will be completed later in the spring with a new planting scheme.

The borough is home to many exciting businesses of all sizes and in varied sectors from finance & insurance, technical & digital, to health & care. So, if you're thinking about changing jobs in 2023, why not use the Reigate & Banstead Works website to find out more about these sectors and local employers? You'll be able to search for vacancies and also find advice on careers and skills or setting up a business of your own.  

We need enthusiastic 7-16 year olds to become our first ever young ambassadors for this year’s Specsavers Surrey Youth Games. As well as helping to spread the word about this fantastic free event for health, fitness and activity, being a young ambassador can also help develop leadership skills, personal confidence and positive team building. Free applications on their behalf, or with adult permission, must be submitted using our easy, online form by 31 January.

Who are your most devoted individuals, teams, volunteers, clubs or coaches? Celebrate their achievements in these prestigious annual awards, recognising performance between 1 January 2022 and 1 January 2023. It's free and easy to enter - with 11 categories for all ages and abilities. Shortlisted nominees and their nominators will be invited to a spectacular awards ceremony to announce the winners on 1 March 2023.

Have a question about the borough? If you live or work in Reigate & Banstead you can put your questions about local issues to RBBC Leader, Cllr Mark Brunt. The next Leader's Surgery is 24 January 2023. Email leadersurgery@reigate-banstead.gov.uk to book.

If you or someone you know is looking for a new career challenge, why not take a look at the varied opportunities available at the Council. Current vacancies include positions in our homelessness prevention team.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is asking for views of local people to inform the Design Code Vision for the Redhill to Horley corridor. We are keen to understand your ambitions for the future of the area and encourage you to share your comments and feedback to shape this vision by Tuesday 31 January 2023. Building on our recent engagement workshops in Redhill and Horley, we are now inviting you to take a short survey which seeks particular views for the vision of the design code. This will help us to better understand the local vision for the area and will inform the Design Code. More information on the project and the vision can be found here.

There's still time to have your say on our budget proposals for the year ahead (April 2023 to March 2024). Our proposals include some changes in the way the Council charges for and delivers services, that may affect you. Like all local authorities, we face continuing and new financial pressures due to a combination of factors. These include no central government funding since 2017, the current economic crisis including high-cost inflation, increasing energy costs and some remaining financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of our service review and budget work to meet these financial challenges, we need to reduce costs and increase the amount of income we generate, so that we can continue to deliver our high-quality services efficiently. The consultation closes on 16 January 2023.

There is already significant demand for NHS services this winter and you can help the NHS to help you by using the right service: 

• Pharmacists are trained experts and can help with many common problems. Pharmacists are available on every high street and in supermarkets, with many open evenings and weekends. Search www.nhs.uk to find a pharmacy near you.
• NHS 111 - if you’re not sure which service you need, or need urgent advice in the evening or at the weekend see www.111.nhs.uk or call 111
• In a medical emergency always call 999 or go to the Emergency Department.

Additionally, getting your Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and those closest to you safe this winter. Find out more at: www.surreyheartlands.org/vaccinations

From 1 January to 31 March 2023, a single bus journey will cost no more than £2 on selected routes. Local bus operators so far signed up to the Department for Transport scheme, which aims to help people save money and reduce car journeys, include: 

• Compass operating in Cranleigh, Dorking, Godalming, Guildford, Redhill and Reigate
• Metrobus operating in Banstead, Caterham, Epsom, Horley, Leatherhead, Lingfield, Redhill and Reigate
• Southdown operating in Caterham, Horley, Lingfield Oxted, Redhill and Reigate

For more information about all the bus operators and for other help for transport costs you can visit the government's Help for Household web pages.

Surrey libraries aren’t just about books this winter. As thousands of residents face a challenging winter due to energy price increases, these community spaces at the heart of our towns and villages are offering warm places for residents to drop in for free. You don’t need to be a library member to come along, sit a while, get warm, have a free hot drink and meet others. And you don’t need to read a book either if you don’t want to, as there will be activities on offer to pass the time including, puzzles, colouring packs, card and board games, crochet sets and even knitting.