The level-up Reigate & Banstead project has received some fantastic support from local businesses.

The project is led by Raven Housing Trust with support from VARB and other community organisations and volunteers.  Over 850 laptops have now been refurbished and donated to children via schools (300 from Horley and 550 from the rest of R&B). 

Although the school lockdowns have lifted, the issue of digital exclusion is ongoing, so the project will continue throughout 2021.  We are still looking for donations of laptops.  

“If you work for a business that has spare laptops you'd like to donate, please get in touch ” 

All laptops are securely wiped or have their hard drive replaced before being refurbished and passed on via schools.  If a business is concerned about any data issues, we would be happy to talk to them about our data security processes.

• SGN (Horley) have donated 228 laptops
• First Community Health and Care (Redhill) donated 150 laptops
• Cubic Transportation Systems  (Redhill) donated 20 tablets
• Fidelity (Kingswood) have donated 7 laptops (and volunteer days)
• Dunottar School (Reigate) held a collection and donated 8 laptops
• Pfizer (Tadworth) provided funding to purchase parts

April's Learning Lunch on Wednesday 21 April 12-1pm. Come along to hear the ever popular Nicola Macdonald from Attractive Marketing talk about Marketing Strategy. She will explain how three little words will skyrocket your marketing results. 

A Restart Grant has been announced to support shops (non-essential retail), personal care businesses, such as hairdressers and beauty salons, as well as restaurants and pubs, accommodation, and leisure. Funding will be received from the Government in early April, and then distributed to eligible businesses.

The Restart Grant will support non-essential retail premises with one-off grants of up to £6,000, depending on the rateable value of the premises.

• 7 April, 14 April 10.00-14.00 The Business Hothouse  Planning. Managing and Growing my business Book your space
• 20 April 11.00-12.00 RH Networking Book your space.
• 20 April 09.30-10.45 Gatwick Diamond Business The Power of Community, Building your business connections
• 21 April 12.00-13.00 Reigate & Banstead Learning Lunch Marketing Strategies with Nicola Macdonald Book your space
• 21 April 10.00-12.00 Grants for Growth - Understand and apply for Invest4 grant with free 1-2-1 follow up Book your space 
• 12 May 11.00-12.00 RH Networking Book your space
• 19 May 12.00-13.00 Reigate & Banstead Learning Lunch, How to weatherproof your company with  Karen Espley Book your space
• 16 June 12.00-13.00 Reigate & Banstead Learning Lunch Book your space

Come to the Apprenticeship & Skills Hub surgeries to find out more about how appprenticeships and skills training can support your business.  Support will also be provided for individuals who wish to learn more about being an apprentice.
The surgeries will be hosted using Microsoft teams

First Session 15 April 10.00-11.00 (held fortnighly)

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council has been awarded £132,264 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of their £56 million Welcome Back Fund.

The Funding will help councils prepare for the safe return of shoppers and tourists and can be used to:

• boost the look and feel of their high streets by investing in street planting, parks, green spaces and seating areas to make high streets as beautiful and welcoming as possible.
• Run publicity campaigns and prepare to hold events like street markets and festivals to support local businesses.
• Install signage and floor markings to encourage social distancing and safety.
• Improve high streets and town centres by planting flowers or removing graffiti.

Keep an eye on our website and social media channels to see how our town centres will benefit from this allocation.

The second issue of the quarterly Redhill Marketfield Way development newsletter is out now with an update on project progress to deliver a new cinema, commercial units and new homes, along with what’s coming up next and a chance to ‘meet’ the VINCI project team. 

You can also keep up to date by following VINCI’s dedicated project Twitter feed www.twitter.com/marketfieldway 

Visit our Supporting Local Business web pages for the latest business updates.

Information about Council services can be found on our website.

Follow RBBC on our social media channels.

Four projects to help revitalise Horley town centre were given the go-ahead on 17 September by the Council’s Executive. The 'Delivering Change in Horley' programme will deliver a set of four interrelated projects.

Residents and visitors to Redhill are being asked their views on the town centre’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). The existing order, now due for review, was issued in 2017. The Council is now running a six-week consultation in which it is asking the public to share views of the Protection Order’s impact over the past three years, as well as consider an extension and/or amendments. 

Great progress is being made on the Council’s new cinema, retail and homes development at Marketfield Way in Redhill despite the coronavirus outbreak. The first stage of works, to get the site ready for the main construction, is now virtually complete.

Residents have named Reigate & Banstead’s 11 new rubbish trucks. Almost 250 people took part and it was a tough decision for the crews to choose their favourites.

Following the reopening of the Waller Studio cinema in July, the Harlequin reopened its Café on 14 September. The Café is under new management and has a fresh look and a brand new menu.

The emergency community response has changed in line with residents’ needs and the easing of lockdown. The food store moved out of the Harlequin Theatre into new premises from where we continue to supply local food banks. Emergency food and prescription deliveries, as well as weekly welfare calls, have been phased out and alternatives put in place for vulnerable residents.

Have your say on a £1.5m project to revamp Merstham Recreation Ground. If you live in Merstham or use Merstham Recreation Ground, we'd like to hear your ideas for improving the park, located between Weldon Way and Albury Road. The consultation runs until 5 October. 

MEL Research is carrying out surveys on our behalf to seek local views to help improve our services. Research includes an online and telephone survey - please spare the time to take part if you are contacted. Anyone who wants to have a say can complete the online survey until Monday 5 October.

The new NHS Covid-19 app launched on 24 September. You’ll get alerts if you’re near someone who has tested positive for the virus and it's the fastest way to see if you’re at risk. The more people use the app - the more we can keep each other safe and stop infection rates rising.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Councillor Derek Allcard on Monday 7 September 2020.

Make sure your electoral registration details are up to date in the annual electoral canvass. Changes to the canvass process this year mean that residents may receive an email or text message from us about this for the first time.

Dorothy Ross-Tomlin and Michael Selby officially have been honoured for their long and outstanding service to residents of the borough. They received the title of Honorary Alderwoman and Honorary Alderman, respectively, during the virtual Extraordinary Council Meeting on 24 September.

The Redhill Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which regulates anti-social behaviour in the town centre, has been approved for a further three years following a review of feedback from residents, businesses, and local community groups. Look out for new and improved PSPO signage being introduced in the town centre.

Do you have experience in software development and technical ICT? We are seeking a full time Business Improvements Analyst, who has excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to help deliver our ICT and Digital Strategy. Closing date 4 November. Keep up to date with current vacancies and find out about working at RBBC.

The Council is working hard to help tackle food poverty in the borough. Last week, children and young adults up to 19 ate for free at The Harlequin Theatre. Plus, three local Food Clubs – in Woodhatch, Horley and Merstham – are aiming to be set up ahead of Christmas, using FareShare’s community food membership scheme.