Councillors agreed that strategic priorities will no longer include a proposed office move from the current Town Hall, instead relocating to the new Town Hall building and completing works to make the newer building fit for purpose for the next two to three years.
Strategic priorities agreed by the Council are:
-
Explore future local governance e.g., a Community Council
-
Move the old Town Hall into the existing new Town Hall
-
Investigate future options for the existing Town Hall site and 70 East Street
-
Carry out a review of major assets
-
Create an Epsom Town Centre Car Park Strategy/Deliver the Hook Road (Utilities site) Car Park re-development
-
Strategic CIL Projects
-
Consider options for the future of Bourne Hall Museum.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Hannah Dalton, the Leader of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, said:
“While we work towards local government reorganisation, the Council will prioritise strategic projects that can be delivered in the time available and that offer best value for our residents. Our goal is to meet the ambitious deadlines set by government to transition to a new era of local government, whilst protecting the best interests of our local communities for the future.”
The amendment to the Council’s approved Four-Year Plan follows the directive from government to reorganise local government across the UK, abolishing two-tier councils and replacing them with single-tier, unitary authorities. New unitary councils in Surrey will likely come into effect in April or May 2027, at which time Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) will be dissolved.
Find out more here: Surrey district and borough councils submit proposal to government outlining vision for future governance in the county | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
Councillor Hannah Dalton said:
“Reorganising local government in Surrey into three unitary councils would emphasise alignment with established economic areas, as well as prioritising local identity and community empowerment.
"Unitary councils in north, west and east Surrey would be the right sizes to improve efficiency and capacity to deliver high quality and sustainable public services, whilst meeting local needs informed by local views.
“The proposal is rooted in what local government is all about: local identity, representation and economic alignment.”
The agenda for the meeting can be read here: Epsom and Ewell Democracy
The full Council meeting can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/@epsomandewellBC/playlists(link is external)