Updates from the Leader of the Council

You can listen to Councillor Catherine Sayer's interviews on BBC Radio Surrey

• Friday 7 February: Listen to Councillor Catherine Sayer, Leader of Tandridge District Council, giving her views about the announcement that Surrey is to be part of the first phase of areas to take part in local government reorganisation. This means all Surrey councils will be abolished and replaced with unitary councils, providing council services across a bigger area.
• You can hear on BBC Surrey, interviews featuring Councillor Paul Follows, Leader of Waverley Borough Council and Councillor Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council.
• BBC Radio Surrey about new housing targets for the district.

You can read Councillor Catherine Sayer's interviews on BBC website:

• 12 February: Council leaders rule out devolved 'mega-authority'. About her delight we are ruling out proposing a single unitary.
• 6 February: Devolution: Surrey councillors react to government plans. Councillor Catherine Sayer shared her concerns about the timetable to submit devolution proposals. 
• 23 January: Tandridge concern over 'inheriting' Woking's debt. About her concerns the Council may be forced to take on another council's debt under the local government reorganisations proposals.

You can read Catherine's interviews in these two articles. For access you can read one article for free, or register for a free trial:

• 27 January 2025: District debt drives reorganisation resistance.
• 6 February 2025: Concern over debt as Surrey fast-tracked for reorganisation.

The Council is currently completing the transfer of dozens of public assets from its ownership, mainly to Parish Councils. These assets include, but are not limited to, car parks, recreation grounds, toilets and allotments. 

The Community Asset Transfer (CAT) programme began in September 2024 and its initial purpose was to reduce the council’s ongoing costs by investigating whether other organisations could safely take over the assets. But with the sudden and very swift arrival of local government reorganisation, and the resulting abolition of Tandridge District Council at the end of March next year, the programme took on an additional purpose.  

It became clear that the new East Surrey unitary council which will replace this council next April will need to save money right from the start and there was concern this would inevitably lead to much valued public assets being sold off. This concern was fuelled by statements contained in unitary papers, for example:  

“Both East and West Surrey will operate in a very challenging financial environment, with significant budgetary pressures and limited financial resources from 2027/28, coupled with increasing demand and costs of service delivery. Both new unitaries will be increasingly reliant on Council Tax as the primary source of income.” 

To date, 65 assets have been approved by councillors for transfer and 45 are being progressed through the CAT process. It is expected that more will be approved.  

In some cases, a single asset may comprise multiple elements held under one title or forming part of a single operational site. For example, a recreation ground may include several associated assets such as play areas and pavilions, but it is recorded as one asset within the project.  

Among the assets so far approved for transfer are: 

•  Hambledon Park Open Space (Caterham on the Hill Parish Council) 
•  Ellice Road car park, Oxted (Oxted Parish Council and Limpsfield Parish Council) 
• Boulthurst Way Play Area and Amenity Land (Oxted Parish Council) 
• Woldingham Station Road Car Park (Woldingham Parish Council) 
• Featherstone Playing Fields and Play Area (Godstone Parish Council) 
• Blanchman’s Farm Local Nature Reserve (Warlingham Parish Council) 
• Hamsey Green Recreation Ground (Warlingham Sports Club) 
• Grange Meadow Playing Field (Bletchingley Parish Council) 
• Talbot Road Recreation Ground (Lingfield Parish Council) 
• Dormansland Recreation Ground (Dormansland Parish Council) 
• Caterham&Whyteleafe Tennis Club and Manor Park Pavilion (Whyteleafe Village Council) 

Hopefully, this initiative will protect these prized public assets and keep them under local control. In the new unitary, there will be far fewer local councillors to have a say in their future.  

As you probably know from May’s East Surrey Council elections, only 12 councillors will be representing the whole of Tandridge District in this huge new council which covers more than 550,000 residents. That’s out of a total of 72 councillors representing the current five council areas of Tandridge, Reigate and Banstead, Mole Valley, Elmbridge and Epsom and Ewell.  

East Surrey Council takes over on 1 April 2027. Until that time, it will function as a “shadow” authority dealing with matters relating to the setting up and functioning of the new council.  

Tandridge District Council, Surrey County Council and their existing councillors will continue to run services such as planning, housing, recycling and highways until the end of next March. 

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  

The council is tightening planning controls in Whyteleafe and Caterham after a rapid rise in family homes being converted into shared houses.  

It follows numerous complaints and consideration of evidence showing a large increase in small houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The resulting impacts include poor housing quality, parking congestion, pressure on residential amenities, loss of family housing and  increased noise and anti-social behaviour.  There has been a steady increase in complaints to planning enforcement and licensing amid growing concerns from residents. 

A legal process called an Article 4 Direction in now underway covering Whyteleafe, Caterham Valley and Caterham Hill  because of an over concentration of HMOs. Evidence shows that 53% of all HMOs in Tandridge District are in these areas.  The goal is to protect local amenity and character and to prevent future adverse effects on neighbouring properties and communities. 

Severe impacts 

The extent, speed of change and severity of the impacts means an immediate Article 4 has been necessary. The other option was a non-immediate direction but that requires a 12 month notice period which would allow uncontrolled conversions for a further year, exacerbating the situation.   

The direction means the removal of permitted development rights that allow a single family home to be converted into a small HMO (up to 6 people) without planning permission. Landlords must now submit a planning application and secure consent for any conversion.   

The aim is to ensure that, in future, the council can fully assess any proposal and manage the location, quality and cumulative impact of HMOs. In addition, it should support coordinated effective regulation of HMOs through the council’s planning, licensing and enforcement functions so strengthening the ability to address poor housing standards and bad management practices.  

The Article 4 Direction requires a statutory consultation period of 21 days after which any representations are considered and a decision is then made on whether to confirm it. 

The direction becomes effective from the date of issue, including during the 21 day consultation period. However, it does not apply retrospectively and existing lawful HMOs would remain unaffected with only new conversions requiring planning permission. 

Local authorities across the UK are increasingly implementing Article 4 Directions to manage the sharp rise in the number of small HMOs with some reports showing a 2.3% increase in England over the past year. The surge in these properties has created widespread concerns regarding increased anti-social behaviour, overcrowding and added pressure on parking and local services. For large HMOs, which are rented out to seven or more unrelated occupiers, planning permission is already compulsory. 

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

The next steps towards setting up an East Surrey unitary council are underway. Ten councillors from across the eastern area have been appointed to a joint committee which has begun meeting to help prepare for transferring powers and responsibilities to the new council.  

Five are Surrey County Councillors who have been appointed by the County Council. The other five are appointed by the Districts and Boroughs that will make up the eastern authority. As well as Tandridge, these are Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley and Reigate & Banstead councils. I am the only representative from Tandridge District who is on the joint committee.  A similar committee has also been set up to prepare for the West Surrey unitary.  

For Tandridge District Council, establishing the East Surrey unitary will require a financial contribution of around £1.5m in one-off costs in 2026/2027 which, for us, represents a major financial commitment. It also means a major increase in workload to prepare for the creation of the new authority while also carrying out business as usual. 

Government plans for local government reorganisation will see all eleven of Surrey’s district and boroughs, plus Surrey County Council, abolished. They will be replaced by the two new unitaries, each of which will be responsible for all local services, including housing, planning, waste, education, roads and social care. 

Some services, such as children’s and adult social care which are currently delivered by Surrey County Council, will need to be disaggregated and split across the two new authorities. Other services currently delivered separately by the five districts and boroughs will need to brought together so they can be delivered by one authority.  

Elections for the East Surrey unitary will go ahead on 7 May. It will have a lot fewer councillors than under the current system. There will be two councillors elected per ward. For Tandridge, that means a total of 12 unitary councillors compared with 43 district councillors and six county councillors at present.  

The new East Surrey Council will run alongside the existing ones for almost a year before formally taking over on 1 April 2027. Until that time, Tandridge District Council will continue to provide services as usual. 

Will there be other elections? 

No. Elections had been due to take place this May in Tandridge and some of the other councils when a third of the total number of councillors would have been elected. However, because of the elections for the new unitaries, these will not happen.  

In March, the government is expected to make a Structural Changes Order that legally implements local government reorganisation in Surrey. As part of this, all Surrey councillors will have their terms extended until 31 March 2027, the last day of operation of the old councils.  

Before the lights go out... 

There are several key priorities I would like to deliver before the lights go out at Tandridge District Council. We are one of the few councils to have kept and increased its stock of council houses and one goal is to build more of them and also to make improvements to the 2,600 we already have.  

Moving ahead with a new Local Plan for the district is also high on the list with the aim of  delivering more affordable housing and better infrastructure and protecting our beautiful environment from inappropriate development. It’s also important to complete our programme of playground and toilet refurbishments. The Council has been on a tough journey to achieve financial stability and I want to ensure we stay financially in the best place possible to deliver good services for residents right up until the end. 

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  

The government requires every local planning authority to have an up to date Local Plan in place as soon as possible. Once adopted, the Local Plan will direct all planning decisions. 

The Council is now preparing a new Local Plan for Tandridge District. We intend to start the first public consultation later this month and it’ll last for six weeks. We are keen for as many residents and businesses as possible to take part so we can make the best decisions in the context of what is a very challenging situation. 

The Local Plan will guide where new homes are built, what countryside and green spaces are protected, employment opportunities, access to schools and GPs as well as other new infrastructure such as road improvements.  

Why is it challenging? 

The government wants to build 1.5 million new homes nationally by 2029 and to enable this, it has introduced a number of planning reforms. These include: 

● Allowing areas of Green Belt to be reclassified as grey belt with a view to releasing  them for development. Grey belt isn’t only land that is previously developed but can  also mean building on open countryside.  

● Introducing a new standard method for calculating housing need with much higher  mandatory housing targets. 

● Removing the Green Belt protection against urban sprawl that previously applied  to villages. 

The Council’s new Local Plan must be in accordance with the new rules or it will not pass the necessary examination by a Planning Inspector. 

Our district is particularly affected because it is 94% Green Belt. The Council appreciates this is a finite and precious resource. The preferred location for new development will always be brownfield land which is land that has been built on before and is available for redevelopment. Tandridge District does not have nearly enough available brownfield land to meet the government’s set target. Government policy means we must now assess whether any Green Belt could be considered for development.   

How many homes do we need to plan for? 

The government sets a target for how many homes each council should plan for:  

● Our district’s requirement is currently 993 dwellings per year. This compares with  125 dwellings per year in the current Local Plan (2008 Core Strategy). 

● Meeting this target will be very difficult because of the constraints here. As well as   Green Belt, the District has two National Landscapes, Surrey Hills and the High  Weald, and has significant flooding and infrastructure constraints. 

● The new Local Plan needs to balance the need for new housing, for new  infrastructure and for new economic growth with protecting the district’s character  and beautiful landscapes.  

It is a difficult balance and the Council would like your help to get it right. 

Why are we doing it? 

Apart from being a government requirement, it is important to have an up to date Local Plan because it allows more local control over development and avoids costly planning appeals. Without one, the district is vulnerable to speculative and inappropriate development proposals. This is happening at the moment.  

A Local Plan also allows us to set affordable housing policies and to specify a percentage of affordable housing which developers must include in new developments. This should help provide more housing for key workers such as nurses and teachers and also help local businesses that need staff who can afford to live nearby.  

You can take part in the consultation by visiting: www.tandridge.gov.uk/consult, or visit the Council Offices in Oxted. Paper copies will also be available at Caterham and Oxted libraries. 

Please do let us have your views. Thank you. 

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  

The huge amount of debt in west and north Surrey has driven the government’s decision for two, rather than three, new unitary councils for Surrey. 

In her statement announcing the decision, government Minister Alison McGovern said the proposal for two unitary councils was more likely to be financially sustainable, adding: “This criterion is particularly relevant in the unique context of Surrey, where reorganisation is a critical intervention to improve the financial viability of the area’s councils, given unprecedented levels of unsupported debt.” 

The government also announced it will make a repayment of £500 million of the £2.2 billion debt incurred by bankrupt Woking Borough Council. I asked if the government could give an assurance that residents of Surrey authorities without debt (like Tandridge) would not be liable for any of the remainder and was told there is no assumption, at present, that debt will be funded by efficiencies or asset sales outside of Woking.  Tandridge District Council is financially stable and it would be most unfair if residents in Tandridge were to be penalised because of someone else’s debt. 

Surrey’s current two tier system of district and county councils will now be replaced by two new unitaries, East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council. Each unitary will be responsible for all local services, including housing, planning, waste, education, roads and social care. As well as Tandridge, the new East Surrey Council will comprise Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley and Reigate & Banstead councils.  

All eleven district and borough councils, including Tandridge District Council, together with Surrey County Council will be abolished. 

Key dates:  

• May 2026: Elections will be held for the new unitary councils. Elected councillors will work in a shadow authority to help prepare for the new councils. 

• 31 March 2027: The 12 current councils will close,

• 1 April 2027: The new unitary councils will officially take over. 

Hopefully, the new system will be simpler for residents because they will only have one council to deal with that is responsible for all services. Another benefit advanced by the government is that it will save money though that, of course, remains to be seen.  

There is a lot of concern though that this is a hollowing out of local democracy with mega councils and all powerful mayors proving the opposite of devolution and, instead, increasing control from central government.  

Inevitably, I think, local government will end up being much less local with areas that have been used to their own elected council being subsumed into a much larger authority. The new unitary councils will have many fewer councillors than under the current system and those  councillors will have a much heavier workload. There will be two councillors per ward. For Tandridge, this means a total of 12 unitary councillors compared with 49 councillors at present.  

But the die has been cast and I will now be working hard to make sure that Tandridge has a strong voice in setting the direction of the East Surrey unitary 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  

Unauthorised caravan and static mobile home sites have been appearing across the district with increasing regularity. The land may be legitimately owned but it does not have planning permission for development, such as laying hardstanding, installing drainage or moving homes onto the site. 

These unauthorised sites are causing a great deal of community unhappiness and friction as well as destruction of the countryside. They are typically set up over the weekend or on Friday evenings.  

This repeated pattern of behaviour in some parts of the district is causing great anxiety for nearby residents. They watch as diggers and convoys of HGVs arrive, as tarmac is poured over green fields, as trees are cut down and uprooted – to be replaced by hardstanding and static caravans, often before going through any planning process. By contrast, any resident wanting to extend their home or build an extra dwelling has to submit and pay for a planning application and only if permission is granted, can they carry out development. 

The council has obtained emergency High Court injunctions to stop any further development on unauthorised sites and will continue to do so when necessary. Breaching an injunction can result in serious consequences, including fines or imprisonment and the council will pursue any such breaches through the courts. 

Unauthorised sites are by no means confined to Tandridge District and have been occurring across Surrey and elsewhere as you may have seen from recent news headlines. However, because much of our district is rural, it has become a major issue for the council. 

We have set aside funds to enable us to take planning enforcement and legal action to uphold planning regulations and protect the environment, in particular the large areas of Green Belt in the district. But the legal process is complex and it can take a long time to resolve these situations. Plus, retrospective planning applications are often submitted and the planning rules mean these must be considered alongside enforcement or other legal action.   

The council has a legal duty, set out by the government, to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community, including gypsies and travellers. To do this, it must identify a five year supply of land for pitches.  

To meet the need and as part of the work for a new Local Plan, the council has carried out a detailed study, with the help of experienced consultants, to identify appropriate sites for gypsy and traveller accommodation. First of all, an accommodation assessment of current and future need within the district was undertaken which identified a five year need for 80 pitches. This was followed by a Pitch Delivery Assessment and Interim Planning Policy Statement which set out how the need is being met.  

Despite this, unauthorised sites are still appearing. Dealing with them is a complicated, expensive and lengthy process, but I am committed to using every legal and planning power available to the council to address this unacceptable situation.  

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  

Local charities and voluntary groups are being invited to apply for a grant of up to £2,000 from the Tandridge Together Community Fund.  

The grants will be awarded in the new year to organisations which demonstrate how the work they do improves the health and wellbeing of people living in the district. Their activities must meet one or more of the following objectives. 

• Support people to be able to live independently for as long as possible. 

• Support people to improve their emotional and physical health. 

• Target services at under-represented and / or hard to reach groups. 

• Effectively safeguard people from abuse, neglect or poor treatment. 

• Reduce social isolation. 

• Help reduce reliance on alternative, higher cost state interventions. 

• Support and enable carers to carry on caring for as long as possible. 

• Help increase youth provision across the district. 

The fund comes from money raised by the Tandridge Together Lottery. 10p from every ticket sold goes directly into the Tandridge Together Community Fund for the Council to distribute via these small grants. 

For more information, including eligibility and how to apply, visit www.tandridge.gov.uk/communityfund Applications close on Friday 28 November 2025. 

This year we awarded £20,000 in grants of up to £2,000 to: 

• Bloomin' Arts Limited 

• Cafe Milk CIO 

• Delight 

• East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services (ESDAS) 

• ESRTP / Buses 4U 

• Freedom Leisure 

• Head2Head Theatre 

• Lloyd Hall 

• Make a Scene Theatre 

• Prospero Theatre 

• Sal's Shoes 

• The Ryan Neuro Therapy Centre 

• The Salvation Army - Caterham 

• The Westway Community and Wellbeing Centre 

• The Woodhouse Centre 

• Warren Clark Golfing Dreams Limited 

• Young Epilepsy 

The grants have helped a wide range of projects from collecting and distributing shoes for children from low income families, befriending services for the elderly, care and support for domestic abuse survivors and a wide variety of workshops for students, adults and young adults with learning disabilities, disabilities and or mental health challenges. 

The Tandridge Together Lottery was launched in 2018. Tickets are £1 and there are weekly draws with a top prize of £25,000.  

So if you fancy a flutter, are aged 18 or over and want to support a local good cause, please do buy a ticket at www.tandridgelottery.co.uk 

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

Fly-tipping, the illegal dumping of waste, is a real problem in our district and expensive for all of us because it is the taxpayer who ultimately pays for it to be cleared up. 

In 2023/24, there were 959 reported fly-tipping incidents in Tandridge district with the most popular fly-tipped items being mattresses, fridge and freezers and bulky household waste including black bin bags. 

 It most often happens in rural areas near towns, such as near Croydon, where secluded roads and open spaces can be viewed as attractive dumping grounds where the perpetrator may be able to get away with it unseen. 

If you see fly-tipping: 

• Call 999 if it’s happening now. 

• If it blocks the road, contact Surrey County Council. 

• If is causes serious pollution or is a major incident call the Environment Agency, 0800 807060. 

• On private land, the landowner must clear it 

• For all other cases, use our fly-tipping report form at www.tandridge.gov.uk/report.  We will remove the waste as quickly as possible. 

What we’re doing  

• Investigating all reported cases with evidence. 

• Working with local volunteers. 

• Installing signage and CCTV in hotspots . 

Fly-tipping can cause pollution and harm the environment, human health, animals and wildlife. It is an ongoing problem for landowners and farmers. We work with landowners to identify offenders and will prosecute where appropriate. We aim to deal promptly with fly-tipped material on our land or highways and provide advice to landowners affected by fly-tipping. 

How you can help

• Use registered waste carriers, check Environment Agency Register or call 03708 506 506. 

• Get a Waste Transfer Note before paying. 

• Photograph the vehicle and registration removing your waste. 

• Ask where your waste will go and get receipts. 

• Avoid cheap offers - legitimate disposal isn’t free - get more than one quote. 

 Not everyone realises that you are responsible for your waste even after it leaves your property. If it’s later found fly-tipped and traced back to you, you could be fined. So it’s always a good idea to check waste carriers, including tradespeople, have the proper licence. 

Penalties 

• Large-scale fly-tipping: Unlimited fines, (often over £50k), possible prison 

• Smaller offences: Fines up to £5,000 and a criminal record 

 Book a bulky waste collection 

 If you've got unwanted furniture, white goods or electrical items, such as washing machines, mattresses, beds and sofas, you can pay for the Council to collect them, visit www.tandridge.gov.uk/bulkywaste. We will dispose of your waste properly. 

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  

The government is committed to building 1.5 million new homes within the course of this parliament and has already introduced a number of planning reforms.  

These include revising the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to allow areas of green belt to be reclassified as grey belt and bringing in a new standard method for calculating housing need with higher mandatory housing targets. In March, the government scrapped a key green belt protection for villages preventing unrestricted sprawl. 

It is now looking to implement further planning reforms to speed up house building, to lower the risk and costs to developers, and to support the growth of small and medium developers by streamlining planning rules on smaller sites and streamlining planning committees through delegating many more decisions to council officers.  

Among the changes the government is currently consulting on are: 

• Removing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements for developers, including a total exemption, on sites with less than 10 dwellings or up to 0.5 hectare in size. Reducing BNG requirements on schemes of 10-49 dwellings or up to 1 hectare.  BNG was brought in early last year to ensure developments actively enhance biodiversity by creating or improving wildlife habitats. Currently, BNG is mandatory for almost all developments and requires a minimum 10% gain in biodiversity. 
• Reform of council Planning Committees to ensure many fewer applications are decided by councillors, reducing democratic input and residents’ ability to have their say at committee meetings. Two tiers of application are being proposed. Tier A for smaller applications, including all householder applications, minor residential developments (less than 10 houses) and minor commercial developments. These would always be decided by council officers. Tier B, larger applications, would start from the position of being delegated to officers but there would be discretion to decide that some should be heard by the Planning Committee. 
• Introducing measures requiring developers to submit a build out statement to local planning authorities, to notify planning authorities when development has commenced and to report back annually on housing delivery. 
• Introducing a Delayed Homes Penalty which local planning authorities can use if developers fall significantly behind the agreed schedule without reasonable justification. 
• Introducing a set of National Decision Making Policies which all planning authorities must abide by, together with a further review of the NPPF later this year.  

The changes to planning rules have major implications for our District which is 94% green belt, largely rural, and has two National Landscapes (Surrey Hills and the High Weald). We are already seeing an increase in speculative planning applications on high quality green belt land, leading to costly planning appeals.  

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  

This year, there is a very different kind of challenge - local government reorganisation. Under the Government’s fast track timetable for Surrey, elections to new shadow unitary councils are due in May next year with the unitaries taking over on 1 April 2027. Until that time, all the existing councils continue to operate and deliver services. 

Reorganisation creates big pressures at Tandridge District Council because business as usual has to be delivered while also meeting the demands of unitarisation. We are one of the smaller councils in Surrey and a priority for me is to make sure this district’s voice is heard strongly throughout the reorganisation process. The larger councils are able to allocate more resource to reorganisation. It is important to ensure that does not unfairly benefit them and to make sure Tandridge and its residents are not disadvantaged. 

Financial stability: We have to maintain financial stability. Our success in doing this over the past four years has been recognised by both the government and within the local government world, but it has not been easy. What is certain is it won’t get any easier with central government funding continuing to decrease and the looming Fair Funding Review for distributing central government funds to councils likely to mean less money for Surrey. 

Local Plan: It is crucial we move as fast as possible with delivering a new Local Plan. It is now more important than ever so that we set the direction for future development before this council loses control over it. 

Many residents are worried about development pressures on the local environment. These worries have been amplified by the government’s new National Planning Policy Framework. This introduced the concept of “grey belt” and has led to speculative planning applications on high quality green belt land. What qualifies as grey belt is open to argument and it’s already clear lawyers are having a field day with it, leading to costly planning appeals. 

We need a Local Plan that balances delivering housing with protecting the district’s character and beautiful landscapes. We need it to focus on bringing forward supporting infrastructure and providing affordable and key worker housing. We need it to safeguard against inappropriate and unsustainable development. 

Community facilities: Having got the council’s finances back on track, we have been able to invest in the district’s parks, children’s play areas and public toilets. Again, this work has taken on a greater importance because of local government reorganisation. We are keen to do as much as we can, as quickly as we can, to upgrade community facilities, some of which are likely to be taken on by parish councils for the future. 

Supporting local businesses: We are keeping two and three hour free parking in the council’s car parks. This is something we consider crucial to attract residents, visitors and new businesses to our high streets. After the success last year of the first Tandridge Business awards, we are holding these again in October to celebrate the diversity and achievements of local businesses. Businesses can apply now 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  

Elections for the new East Surrey unitary will go ahead on 7 May. It will have a lot fewer councillors than under the current system. There will be two councillors elected per ward. For Tandridge, that means a total of 12 unitary councillors compared with 49 councillors at present. To vote, residents must be registered by midnight on Monday 20 April 2026 at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.   

The councillors elected in May will work as members of a shadow authority, helping to oversee the transition to the new system.  From 1 April 2027, the East Surrey unitary will officially take over delivering all local services in East Surrey. Existing councillors will continue to represent their areas until 31 March 2027 and Tandridge District Council will continue to provide services as usual up to that date. 

Until the May election, a joint committee of current councillors is holding regular meetings to help prepare for transferring powers and responsibilities to the unitary.  

Ten councillors from across the eastern area have been appointed to the joint committee. Five are Surrey County Councillors who have been appointed by the County Council. The other five are appointed by the Districts and Boroughs that will make up the eastern authority. As well as Tandridge, these are Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley and Reigate & Banstead councils. I am the only representative from Tandridge District who is on the joint committee.  A similar committee has also been set up to prepare for the West Surrey unitary.  

For Tandridge District Council, establishing the East Surrey unitary will require a financial contribution of around £1.5m in one-off costs in 2026/2027 which, for us, represents a major financial commitment. It also means a major increase in workload to prepare for the creation of the new authority while also carrying out business as usual. 

Government plans for local government reorganisation will see all eleven of Surrey’s district and boroughs, plus Surrey County Council, abolished. They will be replaced by the two new unitaries, East and West Surrey, each of which will be responsible for all local services, including housing, planning, waste, education, roads and social care. 

Some services, such as children’s and adult social care which are currently delivered by Surrey County Council, will need to be disaggregated and split across the two new authorities. Other services currently delivered separately by the five districts and boroughs will need to brought together so they can be delivered by one authority.  

All the district and borough councils and Surrey County Council have created a Future Surrey website about local government reorganisation changes which is available at www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk.    

 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  

The first public consultation is now underway for a new Local Plan for Tandridge District. It began on 19 January and lasts for six weeks, closing at midnight on 1 March. We are keen for as many residents and businesses as possible to take part in the context of what is a very challenging situation. 

The government is requiring every local planning authority to prepare and adopt an up-to-date Local Plan as soon as possible. Local Plans determine how much development is needed, where it should go, and how it should be supported by infrastructure and environmental safeguards. Once adopted, the Local Plan is the key consideration in making all planning decisions. 

The government wants to build 1.5 million new homes nationally by 2029 and, to enable this, it has introduced a number of planning reforms. The Council’s new Local Plan must be in accordance with the government’s new rules or it will not pass the necessary examination by a Planning Inspector. The reforms include: 

Allowing areas of Green Belt to be reclassified as grey belt with a view to releasing them for development. Grey belt isn’t only land that is previously developed but can also mean building on open countryside.  
Introducing a new standard method for calculating housing need with much higher mandatory housing targets.

Removing the Green Belt protection against urban sprawl that previously applied to villages. 

The government’s housing target for our district is 993 dwellings per year. This compares with 125 dwellings per year in the current Local Plan (2008 Core Strategy). 

Meeting this target in full will be a considerable challenge as the district is one of the most constrained in the country with 94% Green Belt, two national landscapes, large areas of flood risk, protected biodiversity designations and significant infrastructure deficits. However, not having an up-to-date local plan in place puts the district and its residents at significant risk of unacceptable unplanned and speculative development being allowed at appeal in locations that would normally be inappropriate. 

This first stage of the Local Plan consultation is to find out people’s priorities and their views on the options available for accommodating new development. At this stage, no decisions have been made and no sites have been included. 

The new plan has to balance the need for new housing, for new infrastructure and for new economic growth with protecting the district’s character and beautiful landscapes. It is a difficult balance and the Council would like your help to get it right. 

You can take part in the consultation by visiting: www.tandridge.gov.uk/localplan2026, or visit the Council Offices in Oxted. Paper copies will also be available at Caterham and Oxted libraries.

Please do let us have your views. Thank you.

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  

Household waste is estimated to increase by around 30% during the festive period with packaging, excess food and unwanted gifts all contributing to the pile. Plus, many common festive items, such as wrapping paper with glitter or foil, tinsel, Christmas cracker toys, are not easily recycled through standard household collections and often end up in landfill. 

If you’d like to have a greener Christmas and recycle as much as possible, here are a few suggestions: 

Food waste 

• Any food you can’t eat or freeze, please pop it in your green food caddy and not in your recycling or rubbish bins. 

Wrapping and decorations 

• Extra cardboard? If it doesn’t all fit in your recycling bin, cut it up and place it next to your recycling bin in a cardboard box or a clear plastic bag. Keep the extra box or bag light and not too tall so crews can move them safely. 

• Avoid glittery or foil wrapping paper, it cannot be recycled and must go in your rubbish bin. 

• Use less Sellotape if possible. 

• Christmas cards and envelopes can be recycled, but avoid glitter, foil, or cards with batteries. 

Batteries, lights, electrical 

• Many decorations, toys and gadgets come with batteries and these shouldn’t go in your household bins. Batteries can cause fires if mixed with rubbish or recycling. Just put them in a small, tied bag next to your food caddy. 

• Broken or unwanted Christmas lights can be recycled. Place them in a tied carrier bag next to your food caddy on your collection day. 

Christmas tree 
If you’ve a real Christmas tree, you can recycle it: 

• At Community Recycling Centres at either Bond Road, Warlingham or Chaldon Road, Caterham. 

• By cutting it up and composting it at home. 

If in doubt, visit our recycling and rubbish web pages for more information – www.tandridge.gov.uk/recyclingandrubbish. 

Member of the Green Waste Club? 

You can recycle your tree by cutting it up (maximum trunk 10cm diameter) to fit in your bin and ensure the lid closes. 

Garden waste collections will not take place in the weeks starting 22 December or 29 December 2025. 

Recycling and rubbish collection changes over Christmas 
Collections will change following the bank holidays. You can check your dates at: www.tandridge.gov.uk/checkmybinday 

Have a wonderful and green Christmas! 

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

It was a fantastic evening at the Tandridge Business Awards on 15 October when local businesses gathered for an awards ceremony at Lingfield Park Resort to celebrate the best in the District.  

Building on the success of last year’s launch, the awards attracted more than 100 entries, highlighting the variety, innovation and talent of local businesses.  

The ceremony was compered by Chantal and Matthew Baker, who run an accountancy practice in Caterham and host Your Business Hour on Ridge Radio. 

Among the winners, Director of Bru & Bear, Lauren Loudon said: “Thank you so much to Tandridge District Council for a lovely evening celebrating so many fabulous businesses in our district.” 

The Director of Mettle and Bond, Wendy Chanda, said at the event: “It’s been a fantastic evening. Thank you to our team, clients and community for your continued support - you’re the heart of everything we do.” 

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

Micro Business of the Year – sponsored by Champ Consultants 

• All Made Up Hair & Beauty Boutique  

The judges said: “The growth, passion and dedication to staff shows this business has a great community vibe.” 

Business of the Year – sponsored by Love Oxted 

• Sebnini Trading Ltd 

The judges said: “Sebnini’s commitment to recruiting and training reflected real courage, integrity and vision.” 

Employer of the Year – sponsored by Surrey Chambers of Commerce 

• Mettle & Bond Care 

The judges said: “Mettle and Bond Care showed they are a business that is hands on with the team, they listen and strive to improve with a 97% satisfaction rate from staff.” 

Rising Star – sponsored by My Club Europe plc 

• Damalie Nakalembe – Mettle & Bond Care  

The judges said: “Damalie has made a remarkable impact, showing leadership well beyond her age, while inspiring colleagues and the wider community.” 

Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Ann Summers 

• Lucy Mason – M&L Hair Design  

The judges said: “Lucy is showing the potential to be a future leader in the industry.” 

Sustainability – sponsored by East Surrey College 

• The Big Wood Estate 

The judges said: “Big Wood Estate has restored natural habitats, embraced ethical farming practices and empowered the younger generation to be eco warriors.” 

Customer Service – sponsored by Godstone Farm 

• The Lost Sheep 

The judges said: “ Their top tier customer care in their retail and tea shop went above and beyond.” 

High Street Business – sponsored by Sebnini 

• Bru & Bear 

The judges said: “This local business has truly become the heart of the community constantly adapting to meet their customers’ needs, from pizza nights and catering to event rentals and more.” 

Community Service Provider – sponsored by North Downs Hospital 

• Therapeutic Equines Assisting Learning (TEAL) CIC 

The judges said: “A one-of-a-kind service, led with purpose, run with passion and with a 365 day a year commitment.” 

Hospitality – sponsored by Federation of Small Businesses 

• Ales on the Green Ltd 

The judges said: “From supporting local breweries to delivering comfort, cleanliness and value for money, this business has become a hub for locals and a draw for visitors alike.” 

Huge congratulations to all the winners and the finalists and, of course, huge thanks to the sponsors whose generosity once again made these awards possible. 

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

The Council is currently in the middle of a programme to refurbish Tandridge District’s community assets with support from parish councils and community groups. The assets include playgrounds, toilets and skateparks and so far we have completed improvements to a number of the most well used facilities.  

The aim is to make these key community sites more accessible, weather resistant and enjoyable for everyone. Many of the playgrounds include additional facilities like toilets, cafes, nature areas, skateparks and sports equipment attracting visitors from across the district. 

The next round of improvements has now been approved and is getting underway.  

Playgrounds approved: 

• Hunters Chase Godstone.  

• Coldshott Oxted.  

• Talbot Road Playground and MUGA Lingfield.  

• Whyteleafe Rec, Whyteleafe. 

• Timberhill, Caterham Valley. 

• Dormansland. 

• Grange Meadow MUGA, Bletchingley. 

• Mid Street MUGA, Nutfield. 

The Council funds all these projects, with parish council contributions on most sites and support from Sport England. 

Skateparks approved: 

• Broadbridge Lane skatepark, Burstow 

• Jenners Field skatepark, Lingfield with parish council contribution 

MUGAs (multi-use games area) are specially designed, versatile outdoor sports facilities that accommodate a range of activities such as football, basketball, netball and tennis. Their main purpose is to provide accessible, safe and flexible spaces for physical activity particularly in areas where space or resources for full-sized pitches is limited. 

For more information about the playground refurbishments including the ones we have already refurbished this year, visit www.tandridge.gov.uk/playgrounds. Spot a problem at a playground? Report it at www.tandridge.gov.uk/report. 

Proposed public toilet refurbishment: 

• Dormansland Recreation ground  

• Whyteleafe Recreation ground  

• Westway Common Caterham  

• Station Road Whyteleafe 

The toilets at Godstone, Warlingham and Ellice Road car park in Oxted have already been refurbished. 

As you may know, the government is planning to reorganise local government which will mean the end of Surrey’s 11 district and borough councils, including Tandridge. It proposes to replace them, and also Surrey County Council, with a unitary system. That means all local services will be delivered by the same council instead of the current two-tier system where services are split between the district and the county council. 

The decision on how many unitary councils there will be in Surrey is expected mid-October.  

Under the government’s current timetable, elections to the new unitaries will take place in May 2026 with Tandridge District Council abolished in April 2027. 

As part of the changes, a number of the district’s community assets are likely to be transferred to parish councils which will run them in the future. 

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

Seven years ago, the Council bought a derelict former office block in Caterham for £2.2m,  planning to convert it to sheltered and affordable rented housing. Bronzeoak House in Stafford Road was also formerly a health centre but had been empty for more than two years and had become a target for anti-social behaviour. 

It was always going to be a complex project. To redevelop Bronzeoak House involved building into a chalk hillside, presenting significant design and construction challenges in respect of access and retaining structures. 

But there also turned out to be a whole lot of unforeseeable challenges that threatened the progress of the redevelopment. These included the COVID pandemic, the original building contractor going into administration, and inflation rises pushing up the cost of materials. In June 2024, the Council had to increase the budget for the scheme from £10.6m to £13.2m to keep it on track.  The Council also received £595,000 in grant funding from Homes England to assist with the scheme finances. 

Despite all of this, the project has now been successfully completed. The result is 26 new affordable rented flats, including 12 two bedroom homes for families and 14 warden assisted sheltered housing properties, right in the heart of Caterham town centre, an attractive location for residents and close to essential services. 

People on the Council’s housing register have moved in and started making these brand new properties their homes. 

 The inclusion of new sheltered housing has allowed the Council to re-house existing sheltered housing residents into well-insulated, accessible and modern homes. In turn, that has helped release other sites at former sheltered housing schemes, namely Pelham House and Stanstead Road in Caterham and Kentwyns in South Nutfield, allowing their redevelopment for new affordable homes for families on the housing register. 

This latest project is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to providing affordable housing. We want to secure the delivery of as many homes as possible that are affordable to  local people and which provide a wider choice of tenure, type and size of housing. We are always on the lookout for an opportunity to build more affordable homes and so to increase our stock of council houses.  

We have 2,580 council houses (Tandridge was one of a minority of local authorities that never sold them off en masse to housing associations in the 1980s) and the latest additions reflect a diverse approach to increasing that stock which includes new builds, refurbishments and buybacks. 

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 25 July 

If you want to boost your business, entering the Tandridge Business Awards 2025 is a great place to start. 

Launched by the Council, the awards gives 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.  

Businesses can enter up to three out of these ten categories: 

• Micro Business of the Year - sponsored by Champ Consultants. 

• Business of the Year - sponsored by Oxted BID. 

• Employer of the Year - sponsored by Surrey Chambers of Commerce. 

• Rising Star - sponsored by My Club Europe Plc. 

• Apprentice of the Year - sponsored by Ann Summers. 

• Customer Service - sponsored by Godstone Farm. 

• Sustainability - sponsored by East Surrey College. 

• Community Service Provider - sponsored by North Downs Hospital. 

• High Street Business - sponsored by Sebnini. 

• Hospitality Business - sponsored by Federation of Small Businesses. 

The closing date for entries is Friday 25 July. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 15 October at 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  

As you might know, the government is planning to reorganise local government which will mean the end of Surrey’s 11 district and borough councils, including Tandridge. It proposes to replace them and Surrey County Council, with a unitary system. That means all local services will be delivered by the same council instead of the current two-tier system where services are split between the district and the county council. 

 It’s not clear whether there will be two or three Surrey unitaries, or even a single huge unitary, but under the government’s current timetable, Tandridge District Council will be abolished in April 2027. 

 In the meantime, we are keen to do as much as we can to improve community facilities, some of which may be taken on by parish councils for the future. 

 These are some of the projects we’ve been working on: 

 Playgrounds  

These popular playgrounds have been refurbished and reopened to make them more accessible, weather resistant and fun for all ages and abilities: 

• Weston Drive, Caterham on the Hill. 

• Grange Meadow, Bletchingley.  

• Jenners Field, Lingfield.  

• Mid Street, South Nutfield.  

• Boulthurst Way, Hurst Green.  

• Mill Lane, Hurst Green. 

• Verdayne Gardens, Hamsey Green. 

• Broadbridge Lane, Smallfield.  

• Next to Felbridge Village Hall, Felbridge. 

 Public toilets  

So far, three sites have been renovated. They are at Godstone, Warlingham and Ellice Road car park, Oxted, with more to follow as all the facilities in the district are reviewed.  

 Multi use games areas for Whyteleafe and Caterham 

 Work has started to refurbish some multi-use games areas which are versatile spaces for playing football, basketball, netball and tennis. 

 At Whyteleafe Recreation Ground, two tennis courts are being refurbished, while at Caterham on the Hill’s Queens Park it is one court. The idea is to provide better opportunities to stay active and enjoy a variety of sports. 

 Council owned tennis courts being upgraded 

The Council has received funding from the Lawn Tennis Association to refurbish public tennis courts at Queens Park and Whyteleafe Recreation Ground.  Renovations will include three courts at Queens Park and two at Whyteleafe Recreation Ground. Work has already started and is expected to finish soon.  

 We are also carrying out major improvements to Queens Park, but physical work on site won’t start until 2026. 

 Boosting biodiversity in our parks  

  We are installing BioCubes in these parks to help wildlife thrive: 

• Broadbridge Lane play area, Burstow. 

• Dormansland Recreation Ground. 

• Grange Meadow playground, Bletchingley. 

• Jenners play area, Lingfield. 

• Mill Lane play area, Oxted. 

• Queens Park play area, Caterham. 

• Whyteleafe Recreational Ground. 

 Each BioCube provides homes for bees, butterflies, frogs, hedgehogs and more. Hopefully, they will make it easier for nature to flourish and give park visitors the chance to see more wildlife. 

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

New rules mean professional dog walkers in Tandridge District will need a permit to walk dogs on council owned land. 

The permit applies to anyone walking dogs for payment and it includes limits on group sizes, proof of liability insurance and adherence to environmental guidelines.  It also covers cleaning up after dogs, keeping dogs under control, protecting wildlife and respecting others in the park.  

Among the things dog walking businesses must do are limiting the number of large or strong dogs walked together and using appropriate control equipment such as leads and harnesses. They also need to have a canine first aid certificate and carry a first aid kit while walking. 

Council officers have worked with local dog walking professionals to understand the appetite for permits and there’s been some positive feedback. Those who have a licence will demonstrate to dog owners that their organisations offer a quality service and have the correct training and insurance in place.  

What's the idea behind it?  

The aim is to promote responsible dog walking, protect public places and keep them clean, and ensure the safety of park users, dogs and wildlife.   

Professional dog walkers with a permit are promoted on the Council’s website and receive a dog permit armband, which must be worn while walking dogs. Having a permit should give dog owners the assurance they are paying for a service that is high quality and has trained staff looking after their pets. 

How much is a permit?  

In setting the price, we’ve looked at what other councils charge and the cost of a Tandridge permit, which is £73 a year, it is good value for money compared to others.  

Professional dog walkers can apply for a licence online at www.tandridge.gov.uk/dogs. The application takes them through some key questions and is then submitted to the Council for approval.  

If you run a dog walking business, having a permit demonstrates to dog owners that your company has the correct training and can be trusted to take care of dogs in a safe and responsible way. It’s also a good opportunity to promote your business and get some helpful publicity.  

Residents can check if a dog-walking service is licenced or permitted in the Council’s online directory of approved businesses. 

The Council also offers a quick reporting system for concerns about professional dog walkers, dog mess, dog bins, noise or stray dogs at www.tandridge.gov.uk/report. 

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

On 1 May, a new bidding round is starting for local community groups and organisations to apply for funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). 

The Council has at least £1.5m to distribute to infrastructure projects within the district. 

The CIL is a charge 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 to 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 then distributes it to projects within the district. This is done via a bidding process when applicants from the district can make their case to be awarded funds for specific improvements.  

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 first step for anyone wanting to bid for funding for a project is to fill in an expression of interest form which has to be done by 21 May. Then, the timetable is: 

• 31 May – Validation of expressions of interest. 

• 28 June – Complete application form and submit business case. 

• 21 July – Deadline for applications. 

• 15 August – CIL Working Group considers applications. 

• 18 September – Planning Policy Committee allocates the funds. 

To give an idea of the sort of projects that have been allocated funding, either in full or in part, the last bidding round concluded with allocations approved in November 2023.  They were: 

• Queens Park, Caterham, improvements:    £1,394,000 

• Station Avenue, Caterham, improvements: £927,375 

• Lingfield Sports Association, drainage system: £211,562 

• Hurst Green Community Centre renovation: £120,000 

• St Mary’s School, Oxted, swimming pool upgrade: £100,000 

• Felbridge Parish Council, playground upgrade: £71,600 

• Oxted Business Improvement District, improved signage: £39,364 

More details about the CIL bidding process are on this link: www.tandridge.gov.uk/cil  

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