An East Side Story of Surrey’s new Parish Councils
Major and effectively permanent change that will increase people’s council tax bills at a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet. Plans to create more new councils … Read More
Author: Chris Caulfield - Local Democracy Reporter
A West Side Story of Surrey’s new Parish Councils
New lower tier councils will be created in Runnymede, Surrey Heath, Woking, and most controversially Guildford, just months after elections were held to simplify local government in Surrey. In May, … Read More
New Surrey Unitary Council CEO salaries to continue to outstrip national leaders
The CEO of the newly created West Surrey Council is set to pocket a £236,485 annual salary. Susan Halliwell, currently oversees Bracknell Forest Council and is expected to take over … Read More
Kingswood “blot on the landscape” development approved
A Grade II* listed site on the edge of the Surrey Hills where a major Hollywood blockbuster was filmed is to be turned into a £200m housing and leisure complex. … Read More
Secret Legal Advice that leaves Surrey high and dry?
The legal advice that forced the nationwide cancellation of local government reorganisation, with the single exception of Surrey because it was too far down the track, will be kept private, … Read More
Government to pay a chunk of Woking’s record debt
Crushing debt set to be inherited by hundreds of thousands of West Surrey residents will have a big chunk taken out of it after the Government officially began the process … Read More
Police headquarters in Leatherhead a step closer
Work is set to begin on Surrey Police’s long-awaited new eastern headquarters, bringing an end to a saga stretching back to 2023, when the force was compelled to vacate its … Read More
UK’s “first and only” craft museum in Surrey open day
One of Surrey’s most important buildings, and the UK’s ‘first and only’ craft museum, is to host a special event to show off the vital restoration work going into saving … Read More
Heathrow expansion consultation deadline
Night flights in and out of Heathrow could be changed as part of new plans being consulted on – as moves to ramp up to a third runway continue and … Read More
Surrey train timetable overhaul pending
Once in a generation changes aimed at improving rail schedules are being set to be introduced across Surrey but there are concerns about how these may impact level crossing downtime, … Read More
Bedsit bedlam in Reigate and Banstead getting under control
Strict controls on new HMOs in Reigate and Banstead could be brought in next year. It comes as new bedsits have sprung up and clustered in Redhill and Horley at … Read More
How would you pronounce “WSASMC”?
One of the first orders of business for the newly formed Liberal Democrat-run, £4billion indebted West Surrey Council – will be to seek to change its name. A motion is … Read More
Burgh Heath hotel plan rejected
Plans to demolish and extend a hotel by adding a further 33 bedrooms and a 72-seater restaurant have been rejected after councillors labelled it an “ugly blot”. Premier Inn had … Read More
West Surrey’s debt woes worry its Unitary Council
A single commissioner team will oversee the combined financial messes across Woking and Spelthorne as fears mount that their enormous unsupported debts and tangled property webs could spill over and … Read More
A Surrey Council’s enforcement against landlords examined
Private landlords have been hit with almost £75,000 in fines over the past two years by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. The figures were presented following questions over levels of … Read More