Leader of the Council column

Tandridge Business Awards Winners – why local business is best 

It was a fantastic evening at the Tandridge Business Awards on 3 October when local businesses gathered for an awards ceremony at Lingfield Park Racecourse to celebrate the best in the District. These were the first awards hosted by the Council and they attracted more than 120 entries from businesses across the district. 

The ceremony was compered by Sir Richard Stilgoe, founder of the Orpheus Centre in Godstone, a charity and college where young disabled people use the arts to prepare for independent living.  The Centre won the Business of the Year award. 

Among the other winners was Sally Goodey who carried off the High Street Business award for The Lost Sheep, a gift shop and tea room in Croydon Road, Caterham. She said: “I am so elated to have won. The business opened just before Covid and kept going through that and through the cost of living crisis, and this has vindicated all our hard work.”  

For Nicola Henderson from Godstone Farm, winner of the Customer Service award, success was the result of a joint effort: “Delighted to win but this is all about the fantastic team we have back at the farm who really work hard to make our customer service great.” 

Sustainability award winner, Lee Cooper, from Paradigm 24 based in Horne commented: “The fact that we are sustainable business and that’s kind of a new industry, well it’s great to be recognised for it. It’s hard to stand out and this award makes such a difference.” 

Kathy Hill, from the King & Queen in Caterham on the Hill which won the Hospitality award, was keen to take the trophy back to the pub to display it before closing time. Kathy, who  spent 11 years as bar manager, took over the tenancy a year ago. 

In total, there were nine category award winners which are: 

 Small Business of the Year (less than 10 employees) – sponsored by Champ Consultants  

Colour House Interiors, Caterham 

Business of the Year Award - sponsored by East Surrey College   

The Orpheus Centre, Godstone 

Employer of the Year Award – sponsored by My Club Europe plc  

Morr & Co Solicitors, Oxted  

Rising Star Award – sponsored by North Downs Hospital 

Joshua Melody at KD Jones Heating Engineers Ltd, Bletchingley 

Customer Service Award – sponsored by Love Oxted  

Godstone Farm Ltd, Godstone 

Sustainability – sponsored by Coast to Capital  

Paradigm 24 Ltd, Horne 

Community Service Provider Award – sponsored by Ann Summers   

Accessify  

High Street Business Award – sponsored by Business Surrey  

The Lost Sheep, Caterham  

Hospitality Award – sponsored by Surrey Chambers of Commerce  

The King and Queen, Caterham 

Huge congratulations to all the winners and the finalists and, of course, huge thanks to the sponsors, without whom we could not have run the awards. 

If you have any comments or questions, please just get in touch at Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk 

Councillor Catherine Sayer 

Leader of the Council  

Playgrounds to get £700k of immediate investment

Upgrading the district’s playgrounds is a key part of the Council’s health and wellbeing strategy.

There are 36 playgrounds in the Tandridge District and the Council does not have the money to refurbish them all at once. So, as a first step, we have identified nine key sites for upgrading in the immediate future.

The Council has explored opportunities for collaboration and for fundraising to boost the refurbishment budget with community stakeholders, for example parish councils.

A number of sites stand out as “destination” playgrounds with high footfall and which attract residents from a wide area. They are easily accessible, have a variety of play equipment and appeal to various age groups. Additionally, they bring economic benefits to the district and to local businesses. 

Some playgrounds are in areas which are prone to flooding and investment is needed to make them more accessible and resilient, especially over the winter months. These are also included in the first phase of refurbishment.

The nine playgrounds to be upgraded are:

• Broadbridge Lane Play Area, Smallfield.
• Dormansland Play Area.
• Grange Meadow Play Area, Bletchingley.
• Jenners Field Play Area, Lingfield.
• Mill Lane Play Area, Hurst Green.
• Hamsey Green.
• Boulthurst Way, Hurst Green.
• Mid Street Play Area, South Nutfield.
• Caterham Barracks, Weston Drive Playground.

The estimated cost of these refurbishments is £728,165. The Council provides £473,195 from its capital budget, £195,470 is from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund money awarded to the Council from central government, £39,500 is support from parish councils and £20,000 is from additional funding streams. 

Another £472,105 of the Council’s capital budget is available to be allocated for future refurbishments with an overall strategy due to be in place this autumn.

There are two other popular playgrounds, which are more complicated to refurbish, and so are not part of the first upgrade. 

One is Whyteleafe Recreation Ground which has accessibility issues. The refurbishment here may include a proposal to change location and will require time for consultations, a feasibility study, and a planning application. The other is Queens Park Play Area in Caterham which needs a weather related upgrade and which is part of a larger development project with Surrey County Council, focusing on flood alleviation measures. 

If you have any comments/questions, please just get in touch at: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk

Councillor Catherine Sayer, Leader of the Council

Council house building and affordable homes 

The Council recently completed 100 new council homes, marking a milestone in our commitment to increasing affordable housing in the district. We plan to keep building council houses whenever the opportunity occurs. 

We have a stock of 2,580 council houses (Tandridge was one of a minority of local authorities that never sold them off en masse to housing associations) and the latest additions reflect a diverse approach to increasing that stock which includes new builds, refurbishments and buybacks. 

In the last year the Council has delivered 11 new homes for affordable rent in Caterham and Warlingham as well as completing 2 buy-backs of former Right to Buy properties and 13 buy backs using the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund.  

In the next 6 months, these rented homes will be completed: 

• Auckland Road, Caterham - 3 homes 

• Bronzeoak, Caterham - 26 homes. 

• Windmill Close, Caterham - 3 homes 

• Uplands, Warlingham - 13 homes 

And construction will start at: 

• Wolfs Wood, Hurst Green - 12 homes 

• Featherstone, Blindley Heath - 16 homes 

• Hollow Lane, Dormansland - 5 homes 

Planning applications have been submitted for the redevelopment of Warren Lane depot, Hurst Green (22 homes) and Pelham House, Caterham (10 Homes) to provide family sized homes for affordable rent. 

Planning applications are being prepared for the redevelopment of Stanstead Road flats, Caterham (4 homes) and Kentwyns Rise, South Nutfield (23 homes). 

The Council purchased land from the Ministry of Defence in Caterham and is preparing a planning application for 16 homes there. We have purchased the former Methodist church in Hurst Green and will be submitting an application for up to 13 new homes.   

The buy-back of Right-to-Buy properties will continue and we plan to purchase a further 8 over the next two years. 

The Council has achieved Investment Partner Status with Homes England, the public body that funds new affordable housing in England. This allows us to bid for government grant and will see the Council receive millions of pounds of funding to assist in delivering council houses.  

We are also exploring long lease options, partnering with other affordable housing providers, and the use of MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) to accelerate delivery, reduce build costs and minimise disruption to local residents through off-site construction. 

Over the last year, in partnership with Clarion Housing Group and Mount Green Housing Association we secured the delivery of 56 new homes for affordable rent in Caterham.  

Work has now started on the Cala Homes scheme in Warlingham and Raven Housing Trust will be delivering 40 affordable rent and shared ownership homes there. We have also negotiated a further 168 affordable homes on development sites across the district.  

If you have any comments/questions, please just get in touch at: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk 

Councillor Catherine Sayer, Leader of the Council 

Budgeting for risk

The annual budget process is the single biggest, most complex exercise that any Council undertakes as part of its annual cycle. Getting this process right is vital to the Council’s success and contributes significantly to what it achieves for the local area. Without a sustainable budget which supports long-term financial resilience, many other plans and aspirations may fail.

The budget balancing act has become ever more tricky in recent years because of the sharp increase in risks. Gone are the days when Councils could rely on central government funding to bolster services and pay the bills. For more than a decade, that funding has been reducing and there is great uncertainty over future funding.

Among the general risks we have to factor in are:

• One year only financial settlements from central government
• Economic turbulence, including inflation and the risk of recession
• The costs of unforeseen local, national and global events which these days often fall upon local government to deal with.

The balancing act for Tandridge District Council is trickier than most because we are a small council with a revenue budget of only £12m and low reserves, so there is little margin for error as you can see from these figures:

For the year just gone (2023/2024), the Council ended up with a revenue budget surplus of £179,000 (1.5% of our total budget) with £721,000 of unused contingency. This is against a savings target of £1.65m or 14% of the budget, almost all of which was delivered.

We are taking a very cautious approach going forward and as well as the £721,000 unused contingency, we have included a further £445,000 contingency in the 2024/2025 budget to cover risk and to avoid being blown off course.

Among the specific risks we have to factor in are:

• Planning appeals: these are very hard to predict and often require expensive external advice. Appeals known to date are covered by current budget provisions, but new appeals may appear at any time during the year with unpredictable costs.
• Enforcement work which we are keen to prioritise as a deterrent to future unauthorised activity. Again, appeals are difficult to forecast and can incur significant costs.
• Housing Benefit: as Government subsidy increasingly fails to meet high local accommodation costs, a significant cost could emerge in the future.

It is the role and responsibility of Councillors to decide where priorities lie and where savings should be made. I believe that one impact of austerity has been to make the budget more of a council officer led exercise in which Councillors’ aspirations seem permanently frustrated by lack of resources. But if a budget departs from reality, for example by discounting risks or expecting service delivery standards that cannot be met from the money available, then the Council becomes unsustainable with consequent poor outcomes for residents.

If you have any comments or questions, please just get in touch at Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk

Councillor Catherine Sayer, Leader of the Council

Tandridge Business Awards – entry deadline 4 August

Tandridge District Council has launched the awards to give local companies an opportunity to showcase their strengths and achievements, differentiate themselves from their competitors and gain recognition for their hard work and dedication.

Winning a business award, or being shortlisted, can bring many benefits to a company:

Increased exposure and visibility through media coverage and social media promotion which can attract new customers and investors.

Enhanced reputation and industry recognition. The awards are being judged by professionals and the winners will receive promotional material that can be used by your business whether it’s for a shop window, online or in print.

Morale boost for staff bringing greater job satisfaction and loyalty and attracting new skilled and motivated employees.

Demonstration of expertise which can help open up opportunities for new business and also help to retain existing customers.

Opportunity to connect with other businesses, exchange ideas and form new partnerships.

The awards are free to enter for all business with a trading address in the Tandridge District. You can enter up to three out of nine categories which are:

• Small Business of the Year (less than 10 employees) - sponsored by Champ Consultants.
• Business of the Year (more than 10 employees) - sponsored by East Surrey College.
• Employer of the Year - sponsored by My Club.
• Rising Star of the Year - sponsored by North Downs Hospital.
• Customer Service Award - sponsored by Love Oxted.
• Sustainability Award.
• Community Service Provider Award - sponsored by Ann Summers.
• High Street Business Award.
• Hospitality Award.

The closing date for entries is Sunday 4 August. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday 3 October at the Lingfield Park Resort.

So why not give it a go and show just how good your business is? Full details about the awards are at www.tandridge.gov.uk/awards.

If you have any comments or questions, please just get in touch at Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk

Councillor Catherine Sayer, Leader of the Council

Priorities for the year ahead

Following the May council elections, a larger Residents Alliance administration is continuing to run the Council and so, as the new Council year begins, I thought it might be good to summarise our main priorities:

● Finances: first is to build on the work done during the last three years to put the Council back on a stable financial footing. We have had to embark on a programme of changes to reduce the Council’s operating costs to achieve the high level of savings needed to stay solvent. We are continuing with the programme for another year but going forward, we realise it can’t all be about savings and are working on generating income, for example by investigating opportunities to sell the Council’s expertise in particular areas.

● Local Plan: As you are probably aware, the Tandridge Local Plan that was submitted by the previous administration has now been found unsound. It is imperative we develop a new Local Plan as soon as possible because, without one, the district is at a much higher risk of inappropriate development. We need to deliver a new plan within a tight budget that focuses on bringing forward infrastructure while also providing affordable and key worker housing. This is not going to be easy because we want to balance delivering new housing with protecting the district’s character and beautiful landscapes.

● Council houses: We want to build more council houses and so far have plans to build 200 more to add to our existing stock of 2,580. We are also working with housing associations, developers and landowners to build affordable homes which include rented and shared ownership homes.

● Open spaces and public toilets: We are investing in the district’s parks, open spaces and children’s play areas. When many councils have closed public toilets to save money, we have allocated £859,000 to refurbish them.

● Supporting local businesses: We are keen to do our best to support existing businesses, work to attract new businesses, and reduce the number of vacant shops in our towns.

● Recycling performance: We are now the second best council in Surrey and eleventh in England for recycling performance. We want to keep this up and hopefully improve on it.

● Sharing services: We aim to increase cooperation and the sharing of services with other local authorities, in particular with our neighbours in East Surrey. With the continuing reduction in core funding from central government to local government and the need to reduce duplication and become more efficient, this is one of the major opportunities to deliver high quality services to residents in the future.

If you have any comments or questions, please just get in touch at Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk

Councillor Catherine Sayer

Leader of the Council

Budget headlines

The Council’s budget for 2024/2025 has just been agreed and I thought it might be worth setting out here some headlines from it.

First and foremost is that the Council is solvent, the budget balances, we’ve kept the Council Tax as low as possible, and we haven’t had to cut services.

You will probably have seen the news headlines about the growing number of local authorities facing major financial problems with some declaring bankruptcy and others battling to avoid it. Our neighbour Croydon Council has declared bankruptcy three times and fellow Surrey council, Woking, is also bankrupt with an eye-watering £2.6 billion pounds of debt. It is, of course, residents who bear the consequences with some struggling Councils imposing a 10% Council Tax rise.

Through a combination of strict financial control and the continued implementation of the Council’s transformation programme, we have delivered £5.5m savings over the last 3 years which represents around 15% of the Council’s budget, each year, for that period. We have had no choice but to make these savings because when we took over the administration in May 2021, the Council was close to bankruptcy.

In the face of such savings, there has been only minimal loss of services to residents. It is true that some services have sometimes not performed as well as required but this has been more the result of operational issues than cost reduction.

Reserves

Our reserves stand at £2.8m, one of the lowest locally even taking TDC’s smaller size into account – this is the figure we inherited. A £111k surplus generated in 2022/23 was carried forward. For the current year of 2023/24, we are forecasting a £360k surplus. We could take this into reserves but plan to hold it as a contingency until we have full confidence that we will not need to draw on it.

Funding

The increase in Council Tax for 2024/25 has been agreed at 2.99%. We are very aware of the pressures on household costs and this rise is below both current and projected inflation rates. The figure of 2.99% means an increase of £7.11 per year for a Band D property – or 14p per week.

Although Tandridge District Council is responsible for collecting all of the Council Tax, we keep less than 11p out of every pound collected. About the same amount goes to the Police with the bulk of the rest going to Surrey County Council.

Car parking charges have been held and the current free parking provisions around the District are being maintained. The increases for other fees and charges are generally around 5% and we have tried to ensure the charge for a service more closely reflects the cost of providing it.

It will require another year of the transformation programme to complete our changes. The  programme has brought us today to a much stronger position and I am confident of its successful completion and another year operating within budget.

If you have any comments or questions, please just get in touch at Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk.

The Handyperson Scheme

Keeping on top of repairs and maintenance in your home is a challenge throughout the year, but it is no surprise that statistics show it’s the winter, when the cold weather strikes, that makes the likelihood of problems occurring in your home, a lot more likely.

And so, this month, I thought it might be worth drawing attention to the Council’s handyperson scheme. This is a subsidised service for minor repairs, improvements and adaptations to the home and garden, for elderly (over 60 years) or disabled residents.

The service carries out the sort of things which can be too small for general contractors to price for but are too difficult for older or disabled residents to tackle on their own. It offers a  mixed variety of trades to assist with urgent repairs and small alterations aimed at making daily living easier for residents.

Subject to budget, the handyperson service can also install key safes, small ramps and grab rails free of charge for qualifying residents, whether you own or rent your home.  However, the service cannot do any electrical repairs or installations which require certification.

The handyperson is fully trained, has passed security checks (known as DBS) and can also offer advice on home safety and security options.

The cost is £29.50 plus VAT, plus the cost of materials.

To provide the service, the Council is working with Millbrook Healthcare Ltd as part of the East Surrey Home Improvement Agency which aims to support independent living. The company is based in Brockham and is now contracted to Tandridge, Reigate & Banstead and Mole Valley Councils with the service available to anyone living in those Council areas.

The company also offers:

• Help with identifying the work required to adapt, repair or improve a home.
• Help with Disabled Facilities Grant applications for adaptation works; case workers carry out checks for eligibility for Council Grants.
• Help for homeowners with accessing funding and arranging for small works and essential repairs to their home in line with criteria set by the Council.
• Technical officers design, arrange labour and monitor the quality of work carried out by experienced and approved contractors. All works are subject to final check for both suitability and quality before submission to the Councils for payment.
• Assisting with Housing Options – help and information about moving home and what housing options are available to meet needs. The advice and support given is free, although costs will be incurred for services such as removal companies, solicitors, etc. The service may be able to access funding or grants to help you with these costs.

For more information, please email eastsurreyhia@millbrookhealthcare.co.uk or call 03301 243 758 and select option 2 for home improvements.

If you have any comments or questions, please just get in touch at Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk.

The Council is keen to hear from anyone who has previously developed land available in the District, known as brownfield land, where new homes could be built.

We are updating our register of brownfield land and are conducting a brownfield Call for Sites consultation. To submit a site for consideration, please visit www.tandridge.gov.uk/brownfield and complete the Site Submission Form. Please e-mail it, with a plan showing the boundaries of the site, to brownfield@tandridge.gov.uk by Monday 15 January 2024.

We want to ensure as many brownfield sites as possible are put forward which have the potential for the development of new homes. We will prioritise the development of brownfield land in line with our adopted development plan policies and I would encourage anyone who may have suitable land available to submit it to be added to our register.

Brownfield land, that is land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure and perhaps now sits derelict or vacant, provides a valuable resource in the protection of greenfield land from development. A greenfield site refers to land which hasn’t been previously developed, for example ancient woodland, grassland, or agricultural land.

What is the brownfield register?

Since 2017, local planning authorities have been required to keep up-to-date, public records of brownfield sites in their area which have the potential for housing development.

To be included in the register, sites must be:

• An area of at least 0.25 hectare or capable of supporting at least five dwellings.
• Suitable for residential development.
• Have no legal or ownership constraints.
• Achievable in the opinion of the Council, the land is likely to be developed within 15 years of being added to the register.
• Meet the definition of previously developed land (PDL) in the National Planning Policy Framework.

The PDL definition excludes land:

• That is or was last occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings.
• Developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill, where provision for restoration has been made through development management procedures.
• In built-up areas such as residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments.
• Previously developed, but where the remains of the permanent structure or fixed surface structure have blended into the landscape.

Does all the land included on the brownfield register automatically get planning permission?

No. Interested parties still need to submit a planning application for the site and the application will need to be assessed to take into consideration the impact on the natural and built environment and to make sure it is in accordance with the Council’s adopted development plan policies.

If you have any comments or questions, please just get in touch at Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk.

Councillor Catherine Sayer

Leader of the Council

Losing the Winter Fuel Payment - are you eligible for Pension Credit?

Until this year, Winter Fuel payments worth up to £300 have been made available to everyone above state pension age but, in July, this universal benefit was ended by the Government.  

Starting this winter, the Winter Fuel payment is restricted to those on benefits and Pension Credit.

The take up of Pension Credit is notoriously poor with estimates from the Department for Work and Pensions showing around 800,000 eligible households in England and Wales set to lose their winter fuel allowance because they are not claiming the Credit to which they are entitled. 

Pension Credit provides extra money to help with living costs for those over State Pension age and on a low income. 

When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together. Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single and your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner.  If your income is higher, you might still be eligible if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings, or you have housing costs.

You may be due Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home. It is also separate from State Pension.  

Claiming Pension Credit doesn’t just top up income – it could also help you to receive other benefits you are entitled to, including support with health and housing costs.

With the removal of the universal Winter Fuel allowance, it has never been more important to check eligibility for Pension Credit. 

If you may be eligible or know someone else who may be, please do check by calling  0800 99 1234 or reading the information on this link: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

There will, of course, be people just above the cut off line, and for them it’s likely to be a tough winter with not only the loss of the Winter Fuel payment but also October’s rise of  around 10% in the energy price cap adding a substantial amount to gas and electricity bills.

If you have any comments/questions, please just get in touch at: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk
 
 

Strengthening Planning Enforcement

Planning enforcement is a key priority for the Council. Recently, there have been a number of high profile breaches of the planning rules, which we have needed to take urgent action to deal with, some of it outside normal working hours.
In July this year, the in-house team of four was dealing with over 400 cases and there was no cover for any work outside core office hours. 

We have been working to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the enforcement team. As part of this, we have commissioned external support to provide additional capacity and expertise in the short term and to assess whether this support could complement the in-house team in the longer term.

Two companies are being trialled, both of which specialise in providing an integrated planning enforcement service to local councils. They will tackle priority cases and more complex ones. The first company started work last month and the Council is monitoring progress, with the intention of asking the second company to start work shortly. 

We have also put in place arrangements to provide an out-of-hours presence. There are certain circumstances where activity is sufficiently serious (or potentially so) to warrant  out-of-hours attendance on site. This is where there is an immediate threat that a breach of planning control could cause irreparable harm, including: 
•    Deliberate unauthorised development in the Green Belt. 
•    Development that has the potential to cause irreparable harm to the environment, especially sensitive sites such as Sites of Special            Scientific Interest and National Landscapes. 
•    Unauthorised works or changes of use in conservation areas, or to a listed building. 
•    Unauthorised works to protected trees. (Trees subject to Protection Orders and Trees in a Conservation Area). 
•    Unauthorised engineering operations, including the importation onto land of materials to be used in construction or land raising activities. 

The new measures come at a cost, but the distress and disturbance caused to residents by some of the planning breaches is huge. I hope this will help provide reassurance that the Council intends to take firm action against such contraventions.

If you have any comments/questions, please just get in touch at: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk
 

Coming soon – MyTandridge Account. Save time, do it online.. 

Next month, we are introducing the MyTandridge Account, a digital platform aimed at giving you quick, easy and secure access to a range of council services all in one place. 

Initially, the Council is launching the Council Tax service on this new system. Over the next six months, we will gradually introduce additional services, including Recycling and Rubbish, Housing and Planning. 

The benefits of the MyTandridge account include: 

• One username and password on a secure and trusted website. 
• Access your account using your phone, laptop, tablet or computer, 24/7.  
• View, pay, or apply for services and report issues. 
• Forms pre-filled with your contact information so you don’t have to. 
• All your enquiries viewed in one place. 
• Quickly report and track the progress of your enquiries or service requests. 
• View a history of your requests. 

From October, once you create your MyTandridge Account, you will be able to: 

• View your household details. 
• See and contact your district councillors. 
• Link your council tax account to your home. 
• View your council tax band and annual amount for your home. 
• View your last council tax payment. 
• Pay your council tax and set up payment options, such as direct debit. 
• Make enquiries about your council tax, including changes of address or applying for discounts or exemptions. 

You can still register for a MyTandridge Account even if you don’t pay Council Tax as other council services will be available on this platform soon. 

To be the first to know when you can create your MyTandridge Account, please sign up for our newsletters at www.tandridge.gov.uk/signup or follow us on Facebook, X and Nextdoor. 

If you don’t have access to the internet or don’t wish to use a digital account, you will still be able to use your current method of payment and gain access to council services and information in the same way as before.  

If you have any comments/questions, please just get in touch at: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk 

The Council’s first net zero carbon homes are about to be completed. These six new homes at Auckland Road and Windmill Close in Caterham on the Hill are a step towards reducing the Council’s carbon footprint and promoting environmentally friendly living.

The new homes will soon be occupied by people from the Council’s housing register and most importantly for those residents, the zero carbon measures should help to keep down their energy bills.

The homes feature:

• 100% low energy lighting: Ensuring efficient and sustainable lighting.
• Low-emissivity (Low-E) glazing: Minimising heat loss and maximising energy savings.

• Mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR): Improving air quality and energy efficiency.

• Enhanced building fabric: Providing superior insulation and thermal performance.

• Air source heat pumps: Offering a renewable energy solution for heating and hot water.

• Photovoltaic panels: Using solar energy to power the homes.

This is just the start. All the new council homes we are building are being designed with the aim of being net zero carbon. We use energy consultants to work with the architects to achieve this and so far, we have not had any problems with delivering them as net zero. We have a current approved programme for 200 new council homes and aim to build more. These will be added to the Council’s existing stock of 2,580 homes.

Funding for net zero carbon homes

There is no specific funding in relation to net zero carbon for new build homes. However, when the Council bids for grant money from Homes England (the government's homes and regeneration agency), we highlight net zero carbon as a benefit to justify the higher build costs and therefore grant levels requested. We have recently received confirmation of a Homes England grant for £130,000 for Auckland Road and £195,000 for Windmill Close.

As for upgrading and retrofitting our existing stock, in March this year the Council made a successful bid to the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and was awarded £849,000 of funding.

 This fund was set up to improve the energy efficiency of socially rented homes. It covers several upgrades to heating, including new heating systems, energy efficient doors and windows and upgraded insulation.

 If you have any comments/questions, please just get in touch at: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk

New Household Support Fund opens

On Monday 3 June, from 10am, residents on low incomes who live in Tandridge District, can apply to the Council for a grant through the Government’s Household Support Fund to help with the rising cost of living.

The fund aims to support households most in need, anyone who is vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. You do not have to be getting benefits to get a grant. If you get benefits, they will not be affected if you get a payment from the fund. You can apply if you have received a household support fund grant in the past, although we will give priority to people or families who have not received a grant before.

Who can apply:

Applicants must:

• Be over the age of 16.
• Live in Tandridge District.
• Be struggling to meet the cost of essential items like food or energy or water bills for themselves or their dependants.

How to apply:

From 10am on Monday 3 June, you can apply online at www.tandridge.gov.uk/supportfund

If you don’t have access to the internet, you can call 01883 722000. To assess applications, the Council needs to ask for some information, most importantly bank statements from March-May 2024. Having these ready, will help speed up the process.

How much are the grants:

The Council has been awarded £124,469 for the Fund and eligible households with children will receive £375, eligible households without children will receive £175. There can only be one application per household.

The money is limited, so it’s best to apply quickly as the fund will close when all the money has been allocated.

Other help with financial hardship:

If you are concerned about whether you are receiving all the benefits or tax credits you are entitled to or are stressed about debt or worrying about how to make your money stretch, Citizens Advice has teamed up with Surrey County Council to offer tailored financial advice to check that your finances are in the best shape they can be. If you are interested in finding out more, and how you might be able to maximise your income, please contact Surrey’s Welfare Line on 0300 200 1008 and ask to be referred for Household Support Fund advice services.

If you have any comments/questions, please just get in touch at: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk

>Tandridge’s public toilets to undergo a revamp

Public toilets across Tandridge district are about to get a lot more convenient. Over the next four years, the council is investing £859,100 in refurbishing them.

Three sites will be refurbished over the next six to nine months. They are at Godstone, Warlingham and Oxted, with more refurbishments to follow as all the facilities in the district are reviewed.

It is a much needed makeover. The district has had some temporary toilet closures due to low investment in the last 25 years and facilities coming to the end of their life. The toilets at Godstone have been a particular difficulty because of an intractable problem with legionella which has led to their temporary closure. They will be the first to be revamped in this new programme.

The provision of public toilets is not a statutory service that councils are required by law to provide. In addition, they are costly to maintain and clean and can often attract antisocial behaviour.

These factors have combined to make austerity-hit councils cut expenditure on them. Recent research shows the number of public lavatories that local authorities have funded and maintained fell from 3,154 in 2015/16 to 2,556 in 2020/21 – a drop of 19%, which comes on top of reductions in previous years. Many councils, including a number in Surrey, have permanently closed public conveniences due to financial pressures.

But public toilets are essential infrastructure and the Kings Fund, a health and social care charity, reports that “at an individual level, there are physical and mental health consequences when adequate public toilet facilities are not available. There are also social impacts, where people are forced to plan ahead and restrict their outings to places they feel confident they will find a toilet. Others simply don’t go out, putting them at risk of social isolation”.

The council is keen to make Tandridge’s towns and villages as attractive to visitors at possible and to boost footfall for local businesses and we hope keeping a good standard of public toilets will help with that aim.

If you have any comments/questions, please just get in touch at: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk

Spending the Community Infrastructure Levy

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge which can be set by local councils on new development to raise money to help fund infrastructure, facilities and services needed to support new homes and businesses.

CIL is applied as a charge on each square metre of new building and is payable by most residential and retail developments in the Tandridge District.

The Council collects the levy and distributes it to projects in the district. This is done via a bidding process which allows applicants from the Tandridge District to make their case to be awarded funds.

The bids are initially assessed by council officers before going before a working group of councillors to make the final decision. The working group is made up of councillors from around the district to ensure overall balance in the distribution of the money.

The most recent round of awards made by the Council’s Planning Policy Committee, approved funding of over £2 million for various infrastructure projects. They included support for:

• Queens Park in Caterham, to improve the park and its public amenities, including better toilets and the widening of pathways for disabled access and also to implement flood alleviation measures.
• Station Avenue in Caterham to improve its public space and implement flood alleviation measures, with the aim of attracting shoppers, visitors and new businesses and boosting economic growth.
• Hurst Green Community Association for the design phase to renovate and extend the Hurst Green Community Centre.
• St Mary’s School in Oxted to upgrade the swimming pool for the school and local community to use.
• Lingfield Sports Association to install a drainage system so the Godstone Road playing field can be used throughout the year.
• Oxted’s Business Improvement District to support improved signage around the town centre.
• Felbridge Parish Council to upgrade the village playground with a new surface and equipment.

We have now allocated all the current income generated from CIL so this year will be focused on making sure the projects are taken forward and delivered as agreed. More details about the CIL process are on www.tandridge.gov.uk/cil.

If you have any comments/questions, please just get in touch at: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk.