Dear Managers,
October's edition of your manager's e-bulletin includes a range of updates and reminders to help you support your teams and keep colleagues informed.
You'll find information about the additional wellbeing support recently made available to colleagues, guidance on annual Data Protection training requirements, and how colleagues can get involved in celebrating Black History Month throughout October.
We're also asking managers to encourage colleagues to take part in the consultation on the future priorities of the new East Surrey and West Surrey Councils.
There's a reminder to complete mid-year appraisals with all members of your team, ideally by the end of November, and we've included an update confirming that pay arrangements will remain unchanged after 1 April 2027.
Thank you for taking the time to read these updates and share the relevant information with your teams.
If there is anything you would like included in future editions, please let us know by emailing yourfeedback@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
Dear Managers,
We hope you are bearing up in the heat!
This edition includes promoting the upcoming Together Through Change LGR webinar for colleagues across all Surrey councils on 13 July, supporting teams during the current hot weather, and final arrangements for the Summer Staff Party.
You’ll also find out about key updates to the Employment Rights Act and our Corporate Equality Policy, guidance on supporting colleagues with caring responsibilities, and a link to Mari’s June vlog.
Please take a few moments to read through the bulletin and share relevant updates with your teams at your upcoming team meetings.
If there’s something you’d like to see included in future editions, please get in touch – we’d be happy to hear your suggestions!
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Staff wellbeing and support
We wanted to make sure managers are aware of the wellbeing support available at this time. You may be supporting colleagues affected by the information recently shared about former RBBC employees, while also processing it yourself. If you need support, or advice on supporting others, a range of wellbeing resources is available.
We wanted to make sure managers are aware of the wellbeing support available at this time. You may be supporting colleagues affected by the information recently shared about former RBBC employees, while also processing it yourself. If you need support, or advice on supporting others, a range of wellbeing resources is available.
Celebrating Black History Month in October
RBBC is celebrating Black History Month throughout October, and we're inviting colleagues to tell us about individuals who inspire them through their resilience, strength, and positive impact, whether from history, our communities, or their own lives. Please encourage colleagues to send their nominations to theknowledge@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
RBBC is celebrating Black History Month throughout October, and we're inviting colleagues to tell us about individuals who inspire them through their resilience, strength and positive impact, whether from history, our communities or their own lives. Please encourage colleagues to send their nominations to theknowledge@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
Mandatory Data Protection training
Please remind your teams that those who have not completed the Data Protection training within the last 12 months must complete the refresher course by 30 October 2026. Colleagues who have completed the training within the last 12 months do not need to complete the refresher at this time and will receive a notification when their next annual refresher is due.
Please remind your teams that those who have not completed the Data Protection training within the last 12 months must complete the refresher course by 30 October 2026. Colleagues who have completed the training within the last 12 months do not need to complete the refresher at this time and will receive a notification when their next annual refresher is due.
Colleagues who are unsure when they last completed the training can check by logging into Learning Pool and navigating to My Learning > Required Learning.
Mid-year appraisals
Please complete mid-year appraisals with all members of your team and ensure they are fully recorded, ideally by the end of November. This will be particularly important as we prepare for Vesting Day and the transition to the new East Surrey Council.
Please complete mid-year appraisals with all members of your team and ensure they are fully recorded, ideally by the end of November. This will be particularly important as we prepare for Vesting Day and the transition to the new East Surrey Council.
Encourage your teams to have their say on the future East and West Surrey Councils
Residents, businesses, local organisations and staff are being asked to have their say on the East and West Surrey Councils’ priorities as they shape their future councils. The strategies for the new East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council will set out each council's vision, priorities and what they want to achieve for their communities.
Residents, businesses, local organisations and staff are being asked to have their say on the East and West Surrey Councils’ priorities as they shape their future councils. The strategies for the new East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council will set out each council's vision, priorities and what they want to achieve for their communities.
They will also help shape future decisions on services, spending, and how public money is invested to deliver those priorities. Anyone who lives or works in East Surrey or West Surrey, including colleagues across all Surrey councils, is encouraged to take part.
Feedback can be submitted until Sunday 15 November.
Community Asset Support Scheme Grants 2026/27 now open
If you have team members who work with local community groups, charities or voluntary organisations, please encourage them to share information about the Community Asset Support Scheme (CASS) grants 2026/27.
If you have team members who work with local community groups, charities or voluntary organisations, please encourage them to share information about the Community Asset Support Scheme (CASS) grants 2026/27.
Grants of between £3,000 and £20,000 are available to eligible voluntary, community and not-for-profit organisations to help improve community buildings and facilities across Reigate & Banstead.
Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 5pm on 2 November 2026, with decisions expected in December 2026.
No change to pay day after 1 April 2027
It's been confirmed that after 1 April 2027 (Vesting Day), current pay arrangements will stay the same. All colleagues will continue to be paid through their current existing council payroll system.
It's been confirmed that after 1 April 2027 (Vesting Day), current pay arrangements will stay the same. All colleagues will continue to be paid through their current existing council payroll system.
National Fraud Initiative 2026
Please make your teams aware that the council is taking part in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) 2026, a nationwide data matching exercise that helps public bodies prevent and detect fraud.
Please ensure your teams aware that the council is taking part in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) 2026, a nationwide data matching exercise that helps public bodies prevent and detect fraud.
As part of this statutory exercise, the council is required to provide certain employee data, including names, addresses, National Insurance numbers, email addresses, bank account details and payroll information. The data is shared with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in line with legal requirements under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. Staff do not need to provide consent for this information to be shared, as participation in the NFI is a legal obligation for public sector organisations.
For more information, colleagues can visit the National Fraud Initiative website or the Knowledge.
New logo and visual identity for East Surrey Council
The East Surrey Shadow Executive has approved a new logo and visual identity for East Surrey Council. The new logo was created by in-house designers from across the existing councils, following an engagement exercise that received more than 2,000 responses.
The East Surrey Shadow Executive has approved a new logo and visual identity for East Surrey Council. The new logo was created by in-house designers from across the existing councils, following an engagement exercise that received more than 2,000 responses.
Mari's October vlog
Mari’s October vlog is now available on the Knowledge.
Please update your teams that Mari’s October vlog is now available on the Knowledge.
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Keeping up to date on LGR
Future Surrey staff newsletter
Please remind your teams that colleagues across the 12 Surrey councils are emailed Future Surrey newsletters with the latest LGR updates.
Future Surrey staff newsletter
Please remind your teams that colleagues across the 12 Surrey councils are regularly emailed Future Surrey newsletters with the latest LGR updates containing updates about what's happening next in LGR, for instance, the recent update confirms that current pay arrangements will stay the same after 1 April 2027 (Vesting Day).
Future Surrey Together intranet
Future Surrey Together is a shared intranet for staff across all 12 Surrey councils. It brings together key information from across all councils, previous editions of the Future Surrey Newsletter, Implementation Team biographies, updates, news, FAQs.
A link to the Future Surrey intranet is available on the homepage of The Knowledge.
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