East Horsley Parish Council has submitted its response to the public consultation on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), both via the official online questionnaire and in a written submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

Following discussion at a recent Council meeting, councillors agreed to support the proposal to create three unitary authorities in Surrey, an approach backed by Guildford Borough Council and eight other borough and district councils. We believe this offers the best chance of delivering locally focused decision-making.

In our response, the Parish Council also highlighted the critical need to resolve the issue of stranded debt, primarily incurred by Woking Borough Council. We raised concerns about the value of proposals such as a mayoral authority for Surrey and Neighbourhood Area Committees, and we challenged the feasibility of the proposed one-year implementation timeline.

The Government is expected to make a final decision later this year.

In December 2024 the Government announced it was reorganising local government in Surrey to create ‘unitary’ authorities. These would combine the existing responsibilities of the county (e.g. education, social care, highways) and boroughs and districts (e.g. planning, housing). Surrey County Council is proposing two unitaries whilst Guildford Borough Council is proposing three unitaries. The three unitary model is supported by nine of the eleven boroughs in the county.

East Horsley parish would be impacted as follows:

• two unitary model: we would be part of West Surrey which would comprise the existing Guildford, Surrey Heath, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Waverley and Woking districts and boroughs; or
• three unitary model: we would be part of West Surrey which would comprise the existing Guildford, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking districts and boroughs.

The advocates of two unitary authorities believe it will offer better value for taxpayers with stable finances protecting vital services. It will also simplify services with fewer points of contact and reduced confusion about which council does what. 

The advocates of three unitary authorities believe the approach is strongly local – it “actively fosters and encourages community empowerment, local decision making and strong place leadership” (Shaping Surrey’s Future, 2025).

An early engagement survey across Surrey showed that of 3,300 residents almost two thirds (63%) expressed a preference for three unitary authorities. Seventeen per cent preferred a two unitary approach, with 20% expressing no preference. Residents said their preference was for a solution that understands local issues and offers local decision making; saving money was a much lower priority. 

Underpinning both proposals is the assumption that Surrey’s stranded debt will be addressed to enable a successful transition to the new way of working. The Government has committed that the massive debts incurred by Woking, which totalled £2.6 billion at one stage, will be dealt with. According to the Minister of State (Jim McMahon) in June, “Government is committed to addressing that unmanageable debt so that any new councils formed out of reorganisation are sustainable in the long-term”. Government will provide debt repayment support but the full details have yet to be announced.

The impact of local government reorganisation on parish councils remains unclear.

Have your say

The Government is holding a public consultation which closes on 8 August 2025. The link to the online survey is: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/lgr#consultation1.

EHPC will submit a consultation response following discussion at the Council on 28 July. Initial views are that the three unitary model offers a geography that should have a better chance of reflecting our local priorities. Such a change programme should also be easier to manage given that fewer boroughs are involved and Guildford and Waverley already share an executive team.

Following this consultation Government will make a decision on the most appropriate approach for Surrey during the Autumn.

Online resources

If you are interested in finding out more there are several resources online:

Guildford Borough Council: https://www.guildford.gov.uk/article/27476/Have-your-say-on-the-future-of-local-government-in-Surrey

Surrey County Council: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/lgr#consultation1

Surrey Local Government Reorganisation Hub: https://www.surreylgrhub.org

A year on from receiving an invaluable contribution to the start-up costs from the Horsley Community Fund (HCF), founding organisers of the Horsley Repair Cafe, Andrew Franklin and Alex Veys, presented bunches of flowers as an expression of appreciation to HCF committee members Lesley Noble and Rosie Fonseca.  

For the second consecutive year, the Horsley Choral Society has taken top honours in their division at the prestigious Leith Hill Music Festival, held last weekend.

In a poignant moment for the group, the competition marked the final appearance of long-serving Musical Director Val Beynon. Under her baton, the choir delivered an exceptional performance, winning all three categories in their division.

East Horsley Parish Council congratulates the Society on this remarkable achievement, joining the many voices celebrating their continued success.

The Horsley Lunch Club for Men has been running for eight months and is proving hugely popular, with members learning to cook delicious, healthy meals while enjoying great company.

The club meets twice a month at The Wheelhouse, West Horsley, from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Each session features a new recipe, with all food and equipment provided. Members work together to prepare and cook the meal, aiming to serve lunch around 12:00. Afterwards, the group packs away the “pop-up kitchen” and heads home with full tummies.

So far, the 15 members have created dishes from India, China, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, the Levant and the UK, while picking up new skills, gaining confidence and making new friends. The emphasis is on real food from scratch that can be easily recreated at home, whether for one person or in batches for the freezer.

The club is open to all men – carers, widowers, and anyone who would like to share a meal, chat and a friendly atmosphere. Spaces are available for new members who want to improve their cooking skills in a relaxed, sociable environment.

For more information or to join, contact Edward Scott on 01483 285394 or email horsleylunchclubformen@gmail.com.

Please be advised that there will be temporary path closures in Great Ridings Wood for two weeks, starting Monday 11 August.

• Footpath 601 (FP601) from High Park Avenue to Bridleway 109 (BW109) will be closed for the full duration.

• Bridleway 109 (BW109) will also be closed from its junction with FP601 to its junction with Bridleway 131 (BW131).

• Footpath 565 (FP565) will remain largely unaffected and open throughout, although there may be brief, temporary obstructions, for example, during deliveries.

The closed paths are marked with a black line on the map.

Just 13 months after its inauguration, the Horsley Repair Cafe is fast approaching a remarkable milestone: its 250th repair!

This Saturday (5 Aug), the team of dedicated volunteers is on track to complete their 250th fix, a fantastic achievement in such a short time. Since opening, the electro-mechanical team has brought new life to a wide range of household and garden appliances, while the textile repairers have lovingly restored garments and linens. Over 200 happy customers have gone home with treasured items repaired and revived.

So, who will be the 250th? Whoever it is will receive a small gift to mark the occasion. Could it be you?

Bring along an item in need of repair and join the team this Saturday in the Canterbury Rooms, next to St Martin’s Church, from 10.00am to midday. Free parking is available at nearby Horsley Towers.

Horsley Choral Society's Autumn season begins on Monday 1 September, with weekly rehearsals held at East Horsley Village Hall from 8pm to 10pm.

If you enjoy singing, this is a perfect time to get involved! New members are warmly invited to come along for a few free taster rehearsals as the term begins. The Society also welcomes Elspeth Wyllie as their new conductor, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for the choir.

There’s no audition required, and singers of all voice parts (SATB) are encouraged to join. All you need is the ability to hold a tune and a passion for singing.

Not only is singing fun, but it’s also been proven to support health and wellbeing, so why not come and enjoy making music with a friendly, like-minded group?

📞 For more information, visit: www.horsleychoralsociety.com
📧 Email: secretary@horsleychoralsociety.com
📱 Phone: 07742 930574

After 14 years of dedicated service, Parish Clerk Nick Clemens will retire in July 2025 following his 70th birthday. Nick’s leadership has been central to the success of our Parish Council, and we thank him for his outstanding contribution.

Following a thorough recruitment process, we are pleased to announce that Hilary Gullen will succeed Nick as Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer. Hilary, currently Electoral Services Manager at Richmond Borough Council and an East Horsley resident, brings valuable local government experience. She will start in mid-May, working alongside Nick for two months to ensure a smooth transition.

We look forward to Hilary’s leadership as our Parish navigates upcoming changes in Surrey's local government landscape.

We’re pleased to welcome two new councillors to East Horsley Parish Council: Chris Hampson and Anna Mitchell.

Chris Hampson

Chris has lived in East Horsley for over a decade and applied to become a councillor to help preserve the village’s semi-rural character, while recognising the importance of appropriate development across the wider borough.

Married with three children, Chris is also passionate about strengthening our strong sense of community. He brings a broad professional background in strategy, finance, operations, and procurement, and looks forward to supporting the Parish Council in its work.

Anna Mitchell

Anna and her family moved to East Horsley in the summer of 2024 and are thoroughly enjoying village life. She has a strong interest in all areas of the Parish Council’s work, with a particular focus on history, heritage, and sustainability.

As a committed sustainability advocate, Anna makes daily choices to reduce environmental impact and promote kindness to the planet. She enjoys gardening, running, walking, and spending time in nature. If time allowed, she’d be out horse riding or painting.

With a professional background in communications and marketing, Anna brings creativity, energy, and a positive mindset to her role on the Council.