Council News

Crowdfund Guildford funding available – deadline extension to 22 May

Read More

Guildford Flood Alleviation Scheme public information event – Thursday 18 April 2024

Read More

“Bill was a true gentleman and he cared passionately about the community in which he lived. For many years he served as an Ash Parish Councillor, bringing his warmth, humour and knowledge to the Council’s proceedings.
Even when he was not a Councillor, Bill still volunteered and got involved in community projects, not least during the Covid Pandemic, where along with his wife Jenny, they made many hundreds of protective face masks for anybody who needed them.
I will truly miss him as will all those whose lives he touched.
Rest in Peace Bill.”
Councillor Nigel Manning

NEWS: It’s almost time to elect Surrey’s next Police and Crime Commissioner

News release

It’s almost time to elect Surrey’s next Police and Crime Commissioner

12 March 2024

The election will take place on 2 May at the same time as local elections in some boroughs and districts. There’s a few new changes voters need to be aware of.

This is the fourth time Surrey residents will go to the polling stations to vote for their Police and Crime Commissioner since the role was introduced across England and Wales in 2012.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) oversees how crime is tackled in the county and holds the police force to account on Surrey residents’ behalf to make sure they are providing an effective and efficient service. The Commissioner also works with the Chief Constable to set the overall direction for the force through the Police and Crime Plan, and proposes the amount of Council Tax that will go towards policing from Surrey residents. The PCC is elected every four years. Candidates will be announced on Monday 8 April 2024.

Mari Roberts-Wood, Managing Director at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, is the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO) responsible for the PCC elections in Surrey this time, including ensuring they are run and promoted consistently across the county.

In some of the boroughs and districts, residents will also vote for local councillors, who decide on services at a local level including planning, parks, leisure and community centres, recycling and waste collection, housing and public health.

Mari Roberts-Wood, Managing Director at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, said: “These elections are an opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect your day-to-day life in your local area.”

“One of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s key responsibilities is to provide a link between the police and residents. This includes listening to feedback from the public on policing and crime reduction and pursuing improvements that can be made by or in partnership with Surrey Police”.

Deadline for registering to vote is 16 April

To vote on 2 May, residents must be registered by Tuesday 16 April. It’s only necessary to register once unless your details have changed – including name or address. Young people who have recently turned 18 need to register. It only takes a few minutes and can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote.  

Another important thing for residents to remember is to bring a valid Voter ID/Photo ID to the polling station. This was introduced last year. A wider range of ID is accepted including a passport, driving license, disabled or older person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government, and a biometric immigration document. Residents without an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC).

New in 2024

Residents unable to vote in person on polling day can, as usual, apply for a postal or proxy vote (someone to vote on your behalf). But there are some changes to postal and proxy voting which came into force on 31 October 2023. For example, you now need to prove your identity when applying, there is a limit on the number of people for whom someone may act as a proxy, and you need to reapply for a postal vote after three years.

Eligble voters can now also apply online. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is by 5pm on Wednesday 17 April, and for a proxy vote it’s by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

This year PCC elections will also use the first past the post voting method rather than the supplementary voting system used in previous years. This means voters will vote for only one candidate as in other elections.

Finally, some residents may see the location of their polling station change due to boundary changes, so it’s really important voters check polling cards before going to vote.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Useful links

• Register to vote, apply for postal or proxy voting and Voter ID: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections
• Surrey PCC election:www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/pcc-election
• PCC candidates: www.choosemypcc.org.uk / telephone service:0300 1311323 (to be updated following publication of candidates on 8 April). The Choose My PCC service provides information about PCC candidates, including candidate photos and campaign statements.

Local elections

On 2 May local elections take place in six out of 11 boroughs and districts in Surrey, including Elmbridge BC, Mole Valley DC, Reigate & Banstead BC, Runnymede BC, Tandridge DC and Woking BC. There are no local elections in Epsom & Ewell BC, Guildford BC, Spelthorne BC, Surrey Heath BC and Waverley BC this year.

PCC elections and Police Area Returning Officer

PCC elections take place across all Surrey boroughs and districts. Mari Roberts-Wood, Managing Director at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, is the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO).

All borough and district Local Returning Officers (LROs) will be responsible for the conduct of the election in their areas on 2 May 2024.  They will send their verification and count results to the PARO on Friday 3 May and the PARO will manage the overall verification and count process for Surrey and declare the Surrey PCC result announcement from Donyngs Leisure Centre, Redhill.

The last PCC election was postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to the Covid Pandemic.

Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner elections count 3 May

For information or to attend the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner electionscount, please contact the Communications team at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council: email communications@reigate-banstead.gov.uk or call 01737 276550.

Police and Crime Commissioners – what they do

The Police and Crime Commissioner represents your views on police and crime in Surrey and plays an important role in holding the Chief Constable to account for the service you receive. One of the key tasks of the Commissioner is to set the Police and Crime Plan that outlines the priorities for Surrey Police.

The Commissioner provides essential funding to local organisations and services that keep communities safe and supports the victims of crime. Working together with partners across the county – the Commissioner oversees multi-million pound funding that ensures services such as helplines and counselling, community safety projects and initiatives that reduce disadvantage are available.

The Commissioner also oversees key decisions, including agreeing the budget with the Chief Constable and setting the amount of council tax that you pay towards policing. More than half of the Force’s budget comes from your council tax with the remainder received from Government.

 Five key responsibilities of the Commissioner:

• To hold the police to account on behalf of the public, including holding the Chief Constable to account for Force performance. This is done through regular internal discussions as well as public performance meetings. It also includes the power to appoint or remove the Chief Constable when necessary
• To provide a link between the police and Surrey residents. This includes listening to feedback from the public on policing and crime reduction and pursuing improvements that can be made by or in partnership with Surrey Police
• To set the strategic direction and aims for Surrey Police through the Police and Crime Plan, and to propose the amount of council tax that will go towards policing from Surrey residents. The successful PCC candidate will consult the public to inform the development of a new Police and Crime Plan.
• To promote community safety, reduce re-offending and support victims. The Commissioner uses the majority of their budget to support services that work in partnership to achieve these aims and regularly bids for additional funding from Government that enhances this work in Surrey
• To be responsible for all funding relating to policing and reducing crime and to work with the Chief Constable to set the force budget in line with priorities and deliver value for money for residents.

Wider responsibilities include delivering better value for money and advocacy regionally and nationally to improve the effectiveness of policing.

The staff of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner also work closely with councils and within wider safety and community partnerships.

 You can read more about a Commissioner’s role on the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ website

For more information, contact:
Communications Team
communications@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
01737 276550

Basingstoke Canal – Navigation Update – Press Release

Dear Canal Users

 

Many of you will be aware that the BBC published an article headlining “Canal leisure pursuits may be stopped due to cuts” yesterday. We feel that parts of this article are misleading, and the following Press Release has been made by Hampshire County Council, and a Press Statement made by Surrey County Council (in consultation with each other).

These statements reflect the formal changes in governance for the Canal being made over the next couple of weeks. We wanted to reassure you as canal users that these planned changes and are about safeguarding the Canal and the Canal Visitor Centre for the medium term and ensuring as far as possible continuation of service.

The Surrey County Council Press Statement is as follows:

Marisa Heath, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Environment said: “Surrey County Council and Hampshire County Council have reviewed how the Basingstoke Canal Authority operates to future-proof and enhance services on the Canal. A recommendation was presented to the Canal’s Joint Management Committee (JMC) in November last year, with JMC members invited to provide feedback. Details can be found here: Agenda for Basingstoke Canal Joint Management Committee on Monday, 20 November 2023, 1.30 pm – Surrey County Council (surreycc.gov.uk).

 

“In the recommendation the Basingstoke Canal Authority will continue to manage the statutory duties and leisure navigation associated with the canal. Surrey County Council will take on responsibility for the Canal Centre’s visitor services from April 2024. There is no intention to close the Canal Centre. Our priority is to maintain the Centre’s services as much as possible, while considering small changes that will help it to operate more efficiently and with maximum value for taxpayer’s money.

 

“Councillors at Hampshire County Council will review the recommendation on 11 March 2024, followed by Surrey County Council’s Councillors on 26 March 2024.”

 

The Hampshire County Council Press Release is as follows:

Hampshire County Council agrees new operating model to secure medium-term future of Basingstoke Canal following reduction in financial contributions

 

A new operating model for the Basingstoke Canal has been agreed by Hampshire County Council following a fall in contributions from some of the local authorities that line the canal route. Under the proposal, the Canal Centre and leisure services, such as camping and boat hire, would become the direct responsibility of Surrey County Council from April 2024. The proposed changes to the management arrangements that are currently delivered through the Basingstoke Canal Authority were agreed by Councillor Russell Oppenheimer at his Decision Day on Monday 11 March. The proposal will be reviewed by Surrey County Council’s Leader of the Council, Tim Oliver on 26 March 2024.

 

Councillor Russell Oppenheimer said: “Basingstoke Canal is a well-loved waterway and recreational landmark which is enjoyed by thousands of people every year. It also plays a vital role in managing flood risks along its route, whilst providing important habitats for many species including birds, fish and insects. It is a fantastic asset that we are committed to protecting for the future.

 

“Historically the Basingstoke Canal has received funding contributions not only from Hampshire and Surrey County Councils, but also from the local authorities that run adjacent to the canal. The funding from partners has now reduced leading Hampshire and Surrey County Councils, as the landowners of the canal, to consider a new joint operating model that can safeguard delivery of the core statutory functions of the waterway using the resources available. Under this new approach, the canal would continue to be maintained and operated for navigation by the Basingstoke Canal Authority, to include the licensing of canoeing and boating activities. Visitors to the Canal Centre would notice little change as Surrey County Council – rather than the Basingstoke Canal Authority – would take on the direct management of the Canal Centre operation and its services. There are also many other organisations that would continue to offer licensed boating and other pursuits and again, this would not stop under these plans.

 

“The changes, if also agreed later this month by Surrey County Council, enable us to balance the budget for the Basingstoke Canal up to 2026/27 at which point the canal’s reserves would be depleted. Following years of reductions in local authority funding, there now needs to be a wider conversation about how we continue to finance the canal in the longer term. The Basingstoke Canal forms part of the national waterways network, and I will be writing to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to set out the challenges we face.”

 

For more information, view the Decision Day webcast and report: Agenda for Executive Lead Member for Universal Services Decision Day & Executive Member for Countryside and Regulatory Services Decision Day on Monday, 11th March, 2024, 2.00 pm | About the Council | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)

Regards

 

James Taylor

 

Strategic Manager – Basingstoke Canal

Working across the Canal for Surrey and Hampshire County Councils

 

Canal Centre: 01252 370073

Email: info@basingstoke-canal.co.uk

Post:  Basingstoke Canal Centre, Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey GU16 6DD

 

 

The Mayor’s Award For Access – Ash Centre Bronze Award

Read More