Welcome to E-Borough Insight
Welcome to March's edition of E-Borough Insight, your newsletter from Epsom & Ewell Borough Council.
The way local government works in Surrey could be changing for the first time in 50 years and we want to hear your thoughts on a proposal to create new unitary councils that could shape the future of local services - find out how you can have your say. This follows Epsom & Ewell Councillors previously voting to approve the submission of the interim proposal for local government reorganisation in Surrey to Jim McMahon MP on Friday 21 March, with a majority agreement on an initial preference for three unitary councils in Surrey.
Epsom & Ewell's Local Plan also moved along with our Planning Team submitting the Local Plan, and all supporting evidence including Consultation responses, to the Secretary of State ahead of public examination. They will appoint a Planning Inspector who will then carry out the examination to determine whether the Local Plan is sound and legally compliant. Find out more including the public examination process.
With more than 250 families from Epsom & Ewell in temporary accommodation, a further 1,336 people on the council's housing needs register, and many others looking for a property to rent or buy we have started reaching out to owners of properties that have been empty for more than two years, to try to bring them back to use. Find out how you can contact us if you have a property to let.
There are many awareness days, weeks and months that reflect our values, providing us with a focus and platform to further support our community. We hope you managed to remember and reflect with us as we marked national Covid-19 Day of Reflection which included us inviting residents to sign a Book of Remembrance and councillors laying yellow ribbon tributes on Covid memorial benches across the borough. The theme of International Women's Day was #AccelerateAction and Victoria, our Contact Centre Supervisor, and Councillor Shanice Goldman, Chair of the Crime and Disorder Committee, talked about what the day meant to them with Councillor Goldman offering advice to comen coming into politics and how society has to change.
And finally...
Cuddington Community Primary School will be joined by St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and St Martin's Church of England Junior School in taking part in Surrey Environment Partnership's 'Reduce Waste' scheme. So far, four Surrey schools have taken home funds to help with their own environmental projects. Find out how to help local school with their own environment project - sign up today.
Keep updated on news on activities on our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor and LinkedIn).