Letter from Cllr Helyn Clack:

I think it might be helpful to say something about the changes coming to Local Government in Surrey.  This is what we know so far and as I understand it.

The government has confirmed that Surrey is to be part of the first wave of areas looking to take the opportunities presented by the government’s devolution agenda. The unique position of our county was referred to by the Secretary of State in her speech to Parliament regarding the debt that has built up amongst some of the boroughs and districts being unsustainable and that this reorganisation will need to address this.  One reason why the Government has decided to fast-track the Surrey councils.

The Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution confirmed to Surrey County Council’s Leader, Tim Oliver, that the government has decided to postpone Surrey’s local elections in May until 2026.   Elections in 2025 were expected to cost about £2,000,000 across the whole county, funding the coordination of printing of ballots, including the cost of post and postal votes, employment of polling stations and officials etc across all 11 boroughs and districts and the 81-county council electoral divisions for over 1,000,00 voters.  This money will now be used to help fund the transition.

In Mole Valley where the local council is elected by one third over four years, it is expected these will be cancelled in 2026.

Instead, the elections in 2026 will be to elect new representatives to the new Unitary Authority in our area followed by elections in 2027 to elect a Mayor for all of Surrey and any other part that is included in the new Mayoral Authority.  The powers of the new Mayoral authority may well include Police, Fire and Rescue, Strategic Planning and Transport, Public Health and Economic Growth.  County and District Councils will be abolished along with their elected councillors on vestment day which will be sometime between the two elections.

The Unitary authority should follow HMG guidelines, each authority is advised to be around 500,000 plus residents.  Surrey has a population of 1.2million and in Mole Valley District Council there are 80,000 residents currently.  The County Council is working with the county 11 Districts and Boroughs to establish the best way to ensure parity across any proposed unitary authorities.

County Council services will have to be disaggregated to Unitaries – services like Social Care for children and adults, highways, libraries, registrations, countryside and environment and much more.  The district councils will aggregate their services like planning and leisure.  Waste collection and disposal will be brought together.  It is also important to note that some areas of the county have higher levels of deprivation, debt and lower abilities to raise council taxes than others when considering the geography of the new unitary boundaries.

There is a huge amount of work to do in a very tight time frame.  Surrey County Council employs around 8,000 people or full-time equivalents for example, and it is important to support them in the transition to their new employers.

A draft submission to HMG in March by the councils in Surrey will then be followed by HMG comments and directions in May.  The Government is proposing consultation with partners but not a public referendum.  It is anticipated that the new framework for the unitary councils will be in place in the Autumn of this year.

For councillors, it is being proposed that the latest divisional boundaries set by the Local Government Boundary Commission in 2024 will be the elected areas for 2026.  The Government is keen to avoid the expense of a new boundary commission and the new Unitaries can call for a new boundary review once they have been vested, this would normally happen every ten years or so.  Currently there are about 500 elected councillors, excluding towns and parish councils in Surrey.  Two or even three councillors per division are being considered.

This reorganisation does not include Town and Parish Councils.

The LGA has also published notes and guidance on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation here The devolution and LG reorganisation hub | Local Government Association which includes Frequently Asked Questions

This is a very fast-moving plan, and I expect there will be a lot of changes and additions along the journey, which I will report back to residents about.  I hope this helps!

Helyn Clack

Surrey County Councillor for Dorking Rural Division

Soon to be abolished…

Mrs Helyn Clack

Member for Dorking Rural Division

Surrey County Council

Tel: 07817 745843

Email: helyn.clack@surreycc.gov.uk

Share your Experiences and Help Shape Next Year’s Community Safety Priorities

Mole Valley’s residents and businesses have the opportunity to help inform the community safety partnership priorities for 2025/26 as part of a six-week consultation run by Mole Valley Community Safety Partnership (MVCSP). Respondents are being asked to provide first-hand experiences of crime and/or anti-social behaviour, whilst also providing a sense of how safe they feel living and working in the district.

MVCSP is made up of organisations and authorities responsible for keeping people safe. The members are Mole Valley District Council, Surrey Police, Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, Surrey County Council, Surrey and Sussex Probation Service, Surrey Fire Authority, Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group, and local Housing Associations. 

The work of Mole Valley’s Community Safety Partnership links to the countywide Community Safety Vision for Surrey and Surrey Community Safety Agreement which outlines how responsible authorities in Surrey collaborate to reduce crime and disorder. It focuses on protecting vulnerable individuals, safeguarding communities, and empowering residents to feel safe. Through alignment with pan-Surrey strategies and partnerships, MVCSP can prioritise local actions where it adds value.

Are you concerned about crime in your area? Have you been a victim of crime or anti-social behaviour? Are there places in Mole Valley where you don’t feel safe? Are you confident that crime is being tackled? Visit molevalley.gov.uk/mvcsp between Wednesday 6 November and Wednesday 18 December 2024 to have your say. Alternatively, hardcopies of the survey are available from Mole Valley District Council’s Dorking offices, RH4 1SJ* and libraries in the district.

MVCSP really wants to hear from those living and working in the district to ensure the priorities set are reflective of crime and anti-social behaviour being experienced. The agreed priorities for 2024/25 include:
 

·       Anti-social behaviour 

·       Domestic Abuse 

·       Hate Crime 

·       Rural and Envirocrime 

·       Shoplifting 

·       Violence against Women and Girls 

·       Violent Crime among Youths and Younger Adult Males   

Rachel O’Reilly, Chair of Mole Valley Community Safety Partnership, said: “This consultation will give us the opportunity to hear everyone’s views on crime and community safety. It is vital we have a good understanding of people’s experiences of crime and anti-social behaviour and any particular problems they may have in their local area as this will help us to focus our resources on the things that matter most to the community and will inform our priorities and action plan for next year. Once this is all in place I hope our residents, businesses and visitors to our district will feel safer in the knowledge that all our partners will be doing everything possible to help reduce instances of crime and anti-social behaviour ”   

The ‘Pharmacy First’ has been set up by NHS England to help manage patient workload. Many patients that attend for acute on the day issues could be seen by a trained pharmacist who can offer advice and supply some NHS medicines where clinically appropriate and under strict clinical pathways.

These are the conditions where your surgery can refer a patient to a pharmacy:

• Uncomplicated UTI for women 16-64yrs
• Shingles 18yr+
• Impetigo 1yr+
• Infected insect bites 1yr+
• Sinusitis 12yr+
• Sore throat 5yr+
• Earache 1-17yrs

All pharmacies who have signed up for the Pharmacy First can treat these conditions.  Patients will contact their surgery in the usual way.  If suitable the surgery will refer to the pharmacy and the pharmacy will contact the patient directly.  The outcome is then added to the patient’s record.

If you do need some medical advice on a non-urgent issue you may also want to consider using your pharmacies more.  They are extremely knowledgeable well trained but typically underutilised.

Extract from leaflet distributed to local residents and businesses

An estimated 200 triathletes will participate in the unique, exciting event, that is the Tri Reigate Sprint Triathlon event.

Many of the triathletes will be locals to Surrey and surrounding areas, supporting local charities of all kinds. Additionally, the Tri Reigate Sprint Triathlon provides a valuable opportunity for fundraisers to generate funds for their chosen charity.

The route has been carefully considered and designed with support from Surrey County Council and Emergency Services.  The event will start and finish inside Buckland Park. The official race start time is 9:30am, and all triathletes will have finished by 11:30am.

However, in order for the event to take place safely we have organised experienced marshals to man the surrounding roads where the triathletes will cycle as part of the route. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like a travel plan provided to avoid the roads in use, please contact us or call 07858605702 for more further information. The same number provided will be the number to call during the event if you have any questions or concerns.

Cyclists will be on the roads from 9:45am until 11am on Sunday 8th September.

The roads used will be: A25 – Reigate Road, Old Road, Old Reigate Road, Kiln Lane, Brockham Lane, Old School Lane, Bushbury Lane, Roothill Lane, Brockhamhurst Road, Leigh Road, Shellwood Road, Clayhill Road, Newdigate Road, Bunce Common Road, Flanchford Road and A25 – Buckland Road.

Please be mindful and aware of the cyclists on Sunday 8th September. Our volunteers & marshals will be available on race day to offer advice. We can assure you that no roads will be closed during this event. Both vehicles and cyclists will be sharing the roads used as part of the cycle route. We ask that residents with parked vehicles on the used roads listed would kindly move their vehicles to another location during the time of the race in order to provide a clear route for the cyclists.

This is a community event and there are a number of ways in which local residents can get involved by coming out and cheering on the triathletes on the route or volunteering on the event.

Providing a safe and enjoyable event requires the help of volunteers. If you would like to join “Team Tri Reigate” you can contact us. With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering can be enormous, one of the more well-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Plus, it can be really good fun!  In exchange for volunteering at the event, you shall receive two free RunThrough race entries in addition to a RunThrough £10 voucher.

Thank you in advance for your support of the Tri Reigate Sprint Triathlon event.

Location: Buckland, Betchworth, Brockham, Leigh and Reigate
Contact: Use contact details provided above

Members of the Parish Council will be attending the Leigh Flower Show this Saturday – for the first time on our own stand. Do please come along and meet us, we’ll be happy to discuss any local issues that you want to raise.

One topic we are particularly interested to get feedback on is the proposal for a solar farm on Little Flanchford Farm in the village. You may have already seen the letter from ILOS Energy and the planning application is likely to be submitted to Mole Valley in the next couple of months. This will also be discussed at the next Parish Council meeting. Representatives from the company will be there to answer any questions there may be. All are welcome to attend. We are also hoping that the police will be attending to give an update on local issues.

The Parish Council meeting will be held at 7:30pm on Monday 22nd July at The Pavilion, Bunce Common Road.

Due to a clash of local Parish Council meetings, Leigh Parish Council decided to move its meeting to the fourth Monday of the month. This will start from February, with this months meeting being on Monday 26th at 7:30pm.

Everything else remains the same. The location will remain as The Pavilion, Bunce Common Road, with meetings commencing at 7:30pm.

We hope to see you there!

What is the Community Infrastructure Levy?

The Community Infrastructure Levy (or CIL for short) is the district councils collect financial contributions from developers to help pay for new and improved infrastructure. It is calculated on a pounds (£) per square metre basis of new development. The levy replaces financial contributions historically made through section 106 agreements. Section 106 agreements will continue to be used for
certain site-specific infrastructure.

What can CiL be spent on?

Money raised can be spent on anything that deals areas online. with the demands that development places on the area, such as:

 transport infrastructure
 open spaces
 educational facilities
 medical facilities
 sporting and other recreational facilities
 social and community facilities
 affordable housing
 preparation of a neighbourhood plan

Parish councils should work closely with neighbouring parishes and us (the district council) to agree on
infrastructure spending priorities.

Join us at the November Parish Council meeting to hear and share options for the current funds available to the village.

LEIGH PARISH COUNCIL

NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS AND PUBLICATION OF UNAUDITED ANNUAL GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY RETURN (This can be viewed here Leigh PC AGAR 2022_23 complete)

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Sections 25, 26 and 27

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)

The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/404)

 LOCAL AUTHORITY ACCOUNTS: A SUMMARY OF YOUR RIGHTS

Please note that this summary applies to all relevant smaller authorities, including local councils, internal drainage boards and ‘other’ smaller authorities.

The basic position

The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (the Act) governs the work of auditors appointed to smaller authorities. This summary explains the provisions contained in Sections 26 and 27 of the Act. The Act, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and the Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 also cover the duties, responsibilities and rights of smaller authorities, other organisations and the public concerning the accounts being audited.

As a local elector, or an interested person, you have certain legal rights in respect of the accounting records of smaller authorities. As an interested person you can inspect accounting records and related documents. If you are a local government elector for the area to which the accounts relate you can also ask questions about the accounts and object to them. You do not have to pay directly for exercising your rights. However, any resulting costs incurred by the smaller authority form part of its running costs. Therefore, indirectly, local residents pay for the cost of you exercising your rights through their council tax.

The right to inspect the accounting records

Any interested person can inspect the accounting records, which includes but is not limited to local electors. You can inspect the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records. You can copy all, or part, of these records or documents. Your inspection must be about the accounts, or relate to an item in the accounts. You cannot, for example, inspect or copy documents unrelated to the accounts, or that include personal information (Section 26 (6) – (10) of the Act explains what is meant by personal information). You cannot inspect information which is protected by commercial confidentiality. This is information which would prejudice commercial confidentiality if it was released to the public and there is not, set against this, a very strong reason in the public interest why it should nevertheless be disclosed.

When smaller authorities have finished preparing accounts for the financial year and approved them, they must publish them (including on a website). There must be a 30 working day period, called the ‘period for the exercise of public rights’, during which you can exercise your statutory right to inspect the accounting records. Smaller authorities must tell the public, including advertising this on their website, that the accounting records and related documents are available to inspect. By arrangement you will then have 30 working days to inspect and make copies of the accounting records. You may have to pay a copying charge. Legislative changes have been made as a result of the restrictions imposed by the Coronavirus for the 2019/20 reporting year which mean that there is no requirement for a common period for public rights.  The period for the exercise of public rights must however commence on or before 1 September 2020. The advertisement must set out the dates of the period for the exercise of public rights, how you can communicate to the smaller authority that you wish to inspect the accounting records and related documents, the name and address of the auditor, and the relevant legislation that governs the inspection of accounts and objections.

The right to ask the auditor questions about the accounting records

You should first ask your smaller authority about the accounting records, since they hold all the details. If you are a local elector, your right to ask questions of the external auditor is enshrined in law. However, while the auditor will answer your questions where possible, they are not always obliged to do so. For example, the question might be better answered by another organisation, require investigation beyond the auditor’s remit, or involve disproportionate cost (which is borne by the local taxpayer). Give your smaller authority the opportunity first to explain anything in the accounting records that you are unsure about. If you are not satisfied with their explanation, you can question the external auditor about the accounting records.

The law limits the time available for you formally to ask questions. This must be done in the period for the exercise of public rights, so let the external auditor know your concern as soon as possible. The advertisement or notice that tells you the accounting records are available to inspect will also give the period for the exercise of public rights during which you may ask the auditor questions, which here means formally asking questions under the Act. You can ask someone to represent you when asking the external auditor questions.

Before you ask the external auditor any questions, inspect the accounting records fully, so you know what they contain. Please remember that you cannot formally ask questions, under the Act, after the end of the period for the exercise of public rights. You may ask your smaller authority other questions about their accounts for any year, at any time. But these are not questions under the Act.

You can ask the external auditor questions about an item in the accounting records for the financial year being audited. However, your right to ask the external auditor questions is limited. The external auditor can only answer ‘what’ questions, not ‘why’ questions. The external auditor cannot answer questions about policies, finances, procedures or anything else unless it is directly relevant to an item in the accounting records. Remember that your questions must always be about facts, not opinions. To avoid misunderstanding, we recommend that you always put your questions in writing.

The right to make objections at audit

You have inspected the accounting records and asked your questions of the smaller authority. Now you may wish to object to the accounts on the basis that an item in them is in your view unlawful or there are matters of wider concern arising from the smaller authority’s finances. A local government elector can ask the external auditor to apply to the High Court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful, or to issue a report on matters which are in the public interest. You must tell the external auditor which specific item in the accounts you object to and why you think the item is unlawful, or why you think that a public interest report should be made about it. You must provide the external auditor with the evidence you have to support your objection. Disagreeing with income or spending does not make it unlawful. To object to the accounts you must write to the external auditor stating you want to make an objection, including the information and evidence below and you must send a copy to the smaller authority. The notice must include:

• confirmation that you are an elector in the smaller authority’s area;
• why you are objecting to the accounts and the facts on which you rely;
• details of any item in the accounts that you think is unlawful; and
• details of any matter about which you think the external auditor should make a public interest report.

Other than it must be in writing, there is no set format for objecting. You can only ask the external auditor to act within the powers available under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

A final word

You may not use this ‘right to object’ to make a personal complaint or claim against your smaller authority.  You should take such complaints to your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau, local Law Centre or to your solicitor. Smaller authorities, and so local taxpayers, meet the costs of dealing with questions and objections.  In deciding whether to take your objection forward, one of a series of factors the auditor must take into account is the cost that will be involved, they will only continue with the objection if it is in the public interest to do so. They may also decide not to consider an objection if they think that it is frivolous or vexatious, or if it repeats an objection already considered. If you appeal to the courts against an auditor’s decision not to apply to the courts for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful, you will have to pay for the action yourself.

LEIGH PC Making Provision for the exercise of Public Rights 2022-23