Star For a Night is our successful performing arts project for young people aged 11 to 18 (up to 25 for those with learning difficulties). It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy free weekly dance, singing and drama tuition, leading up to a final performance in July. This year’s production will be The Wizard of Oz. Registration opens on 13 March with rehearsals set to begin on 24 April. All are welcome, regardless of experience, but spaces are limited. To take part you must be a resident, go to school or work in the borough.

Play areas, greenspaces, upgraded sports facilities, community buildings and energy-saving measures - these are just some of the ways that over £3.7 million, collected via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), has been spent in 2023/24. The CIL charge is collected from developers of new developments to help fund infrastructure and services needed to support them. Since April 2016, we have collected £16.35 million to help fund a range of facilities and services. 

We’re wheelie excited to announce that work has started on the installation of a brand new pump track at Tattenham Way Recreation Ground. It's designed for BMX, mountain bike, scooter and skateboard riders, so the pump track’s bumps and bends will be built for speed. A separate low level balance bike track will also be installed to cater for all abilities. The pump track is funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – a charge on new development for projects in the local area. Work is expected to take approximately five weeks.

Political group Leaders at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council have reacted to the Government's decision to postpone Surrey County Council elections to enable a focus on the development of local government reorganisation plans. Whilst they acknowledged the provisions contained in the White Paper, they expressed concern about the timeline in Surrey and are seeking clarifications on how local authority debt will be managed.

Cllr Richard Biggs, Leader of the Council, will be available to take your questions on Tuesday 18 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

Students from Carrington School, Redhill, have worked with local artist, Uncle Stubble, on a community mural to transform an often overlooked corner of Memorial Park. The colourful mural, which was commissioned as part of the Safer Redhill programme and funded through the government’s Safer Streets fund, will help to create a  more welcoming space for everyone to enjoy. Fifteen students took part and developed individual designs which fed into the artists' work painted on the wall of the disused pavilion.

We have many dedicated litter heroes who help keep the borough litter-free all year round. Can you join them and do your bit as part of the Great British Spring Clean? Run by Keep Britain Tidy who are celebrating their tenth anniversary, the campaign starts 21 March and will run till 6 April. We are requesting you pledge your love for the environment, especially where you live, and help to protect local wildlife. We’ll provide the equipment and collect the rubbish you pick. Individuals can also pledge how many bags of litter they will collect on the Keep Britain Tidy website.

Do you have a passion for public service? Would you like to make a difference in people's lives and be part of an effective council which is committed to delivering the best for its residents? If yes, then please take a look at our vacancies. We are recruiting for: a Partnerships and Safety team Leader, an Accountant (Management &Commercial), a Community Development Worker, Head of Service for Technology Data and Experience, an HGV Mechanic, a Democratic Services and Mayoralty Administrator, a Homeless Relief Team Leader, a Senior Environmental Health Officer, and Casual Drivers.

The spring edition of Borough News - our printed residents’ magazine - is on its way to every household in the borough. Copies should start hitting doormats later this week. Inside, you’ll find articles on our commitment to keeping young people active, creating safer neighbourhoods, supporting those in housing need, and the new look Merstham Rec. We've also got highlights on our support to local communities and how we spend your Council Tax. If you live outside the borough, you can download the magazine from our website.

On 20 February 2025, the Council will publish its Statement of Principles issued under section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005. The Statement of Principles will have effect from 20 March 2025. The published Statement of Principles can be viewed by visiting our website. Alternatively, the document can be inspected between 9am and 5pm on weekdays, by prior arrangement, at the Town Hall, Castlefield Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0SH.

We are seeking a community group or organisation to operate and manage the new Westvale Park Neighbourhood Hall in Horley. The fully accessible building will be a welcoming space where people can come together to enjoy a range of activities and events, including opportunities for sport and physical activity. Facilities include a large hall, kitchen, meeting rooms and clinical spaces for a local GP practice. For details on the neighbourhood hall and to express an interest, please visit our website.

Our Merstham Rec refurb project is almost complete, and visitors will be able to enjoy the ground soon. The play area and outdoor gym equipment is all in, with just the safety surfacing to go down. The parkour course is under construction and will provide a great new facility for young people. The pavilion is almost finished with just the solar panels and green roof to be added. Over 40 trees are being planted, and drainage channels seeded. Lines are being painted on the refursbished MUGA and tennis courts as path resurfacing takes place. Our latest project newsletter is also out.

A great chance to meet employers from London Gatwick offering opportunities in aviation, hospitality, retail, security and much more. Event starts 10am and will run up to 3pm. No need to register. Just turn up, speak to employers, and apply for jobs.  

The annual Fun Run and Sports Festival will take place on Sunday 4 May in Priory Park, Reigate. The YMCA East Surrey Fun Run features a five-mile adult road race and adult and junior one-mile fun runs. There are trophies and prizes to be won, and all participants receive a t-shirt and medal. Some funded places are offered by Reigate & Banstead Council to families in receipt of means tested benefits and anyone interested can email Leisure.Services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk. As part of the accompanying Sports Festival, we'll be hosting a sports club showcase and an extreme mountain bike show. Children can also take part in free taster activities such as a climbing wall and soft archery, to complete an activity passport for a free prize.

This is my Theatre returns to The Castle Grounds, Reigate this summer with three productions. On 7 June there will be performances of 'The Three Musketeers', and Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’. In celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary year, there will be a very special ‘Audience Choice Austen’ on 15 August, where members of  the audience will be asked to choose between a performance of Pride & Prejudice or Emma. Tickets for all shows are available to book now. 

The Mayoress is hosting a Ladies Charity Lunch on Wednesday 2 April at Ciao Italia in Banstead to raise money for charity. Contemporary fine jewellery maker Hannah Bedford will be the guest of honour. Tickets are £45 per person, and the price includes two drinks. There will also be live music from MC Ray Lowe. Event starts at 12pm. 

The Council is proposing to remove permitted development rights to convert ground floor commercial units to residential properties. Implementation of the planning proposal would prevent the automatic development of commercial premises like shops, restaurants, banks and launderettes to residential use, and instead, a full planning application would need to be made. Residents are invited to comment on the proposals until the consultation period closes on 13 May 2025.

Healthwatch Surrey is undertaking research to better understand access to and experience of GP practices for people who have experienced, or are experiencing domestic abuse. We would like to hear from anyone who has accessed, or tried to access support through their GP practice.The findings will help inform future service development and enhance training requirements. Closing date 31 March 2025.

Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead (VARB) has been supporting voluntary organisations and helping people find volunteering opportunities in our local area for the last 30 years. VARB has experts in volunteering, both online, including micro volunteering, and in our community. Last year they helped 582 people get into volunteering and supported over 200 organisations. Maybe they can help you? You can also sign up to VARB's monthly newsletters for the latest news and information in the borough. 

Unused medicines cost the NHS around £300 million every year and a large amount of medicine items are wasted. Pharmacists and GPs across Surrey Heartlands are asking people to only order the medicines they need, especially whilst using the NHS's repeat prescription service. By being mindful of the medicines we use, we can all help reduce waste and make a big difference. Thank you for helping!

Tax credits are set to end in April and to avoid people missing out on their benefits, the Department of Work and Pensions is urging Tax Credit customers to respond to their Universal Credit migration notices before the deadline. If you currently receive tax credits and have received the migration notice, please respond to avoid missing your benefits. 

This April, the amount you can earn before you need to start paying the High Income Child Benefit Charge will increase from £50,000 to £60,000. If you and your partner both have an adjusted net income of less than £60,000, you no longer have to pay the charge. Claiming on the HMRC app or online is quick and easy.