Council accepts Government multi-year settlement… with ‘great reluctance’
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has written to Greg Clarke MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, reluctantly accepting a proposed multi-year financial settlement which details the money the Council will receive from the Government up to April 2020.
Currently the Revenue Support Grant (RSG), the money councils receive from central Government for the year ahead, is revealed a couple of months before the start of the financial year. As part of the December 2015 spending review, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government made an offer to councils to take up a four-year funding settlement for the period 2016/2017 to 2019/2020. In order to accept this offer, councils had to respond last month.
The multi-year settlement is intended to provide funding certainty and stability for local authorities; enabling more proactive planning of service delivery and to support collaboration with partners. However, for several councils this year’s provisional RSG announcement came as an unwelcome surprise. The reduction in RSG is much deeper and faster, and fifteen councils across England, including Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) will lose all their RSG over two years not four, in 2018/2019 EEBC will receive no RSG at all. To make the financial situation worse the Government has decided that in 2019/2020 EEBC is required to pay back £620K to them.
Councillor Eber Kington, Chairman of the Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee, comments: “It is unfair and unreasonable of the Government to say that, in 2019/2020 EEBC will have to pay them £620K. That is the equivalent of Epsom and Ewell residents paying an 11.5% increase in the Council Tax to pay for services elsewhere in the country.
“However, we have to either accept the four-year deal as it is and with certainty about the exact level of our future funding, or take a chance with annual pronouncements of grant funding that could be worse should the economy falter or the Government determines that it needs to take more from local authorities unprotected by that four-year deal.
“And with that threat of further reduced funding we felt we had little choice but to accept. But acceptance does not mean that we agree with the Government’s offer and we will continue to argue for a revised final year settlement”.
In order to meet the financial challenges over the four-year term, this Council will continue to reconfigure its services and charges, reduce operating costs and look at ways to generate greater income.
Council agree to freeze three quarters of car park tariffs
The Council’s Environment Committee has agreed the recommendation of a Parking Working Group to freeze the majority of Council owned car park charges within the Borough next year.
Within Epsom, the Parking Working Group recommended fees to promote Hook Road as a long term stay car park, Upper High Street and Depot Road as long to medium term parking options, Ashley Centre as a medium to short term car park and Town Hall and Hope Lodge as short term stay car parks.
Within Ewell the Council strategy is for the car parks to be used by those using local facilities (shops, dining, etc) and discourage long term London commuter parking.
Councillor John Beckett, Chairman of the Environment Committee said:
“Parking charges are an important source of revenue for the Council, keeping household Council tax in Epsom & Ewell one of the lowest in Surrey. Establishing a balance between the needs of shoppers, local businesses and our revenue can be contentious. The Parking Working Group, consisting of a cross-party group of Councillors from across the Borough, consulted widely before making their recommendations.
“While only 24 of the 103 tariffs currently charged will increase, I know this will still not be a popular move. However car parks don't run themselves and are expensive to maintain. In the last five financial years, the Council has reinvested an average of 66% of the income from our car parks back into those car parks. This on-going expenditure is crucial to the continual running of the car park service. We must invest in essential repairs and remedial works which allows our residents and visitors to the borough the ability to be able to park and enjoy the time they are here.
“I also need to emphasise that all the profits the Council receives from our car parks go directly to fund front-line services, including to the vulnerable in our community, which we would otherwise not be able to deliver”.
Council venue finalist for community excellence
The Epsom Playhouse was one of the finalists in the Epsom & Ewell Business Excellence Awards in the category Best Business for Commitment to the Community. Congratulations to award winner, Mary Zoeller Associates. The other finalist was GES Clean.
The awards were announced by the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP at a ceremony on 17 November at the University for the Creative Arts.

Independent from the Council, the Epsom & Ewell Business Excellence Awards, now in its sixth year, seek to identify and celebrate the best traders and service providers in the Borough. The category Best Business for Commitment to the Community recognises companies that are investing in the community in which they operate and those in greatest need, achieving sustainable impact on key social issues in these areas.
The Epsom Playhouse hosts a wide range of charity and community events, shows and award evenings. Local community groups, including choirs, orchestras, amateur dramatic groups, dance ensembles and schools all benefit from special community rates and services as part of the Playhouses’ dedication to the local community.
Stewards at the Playhouse are all local volunteers, the longest serving steward has been volunteering at the Playhouse for over 30 years. The Epsom Playhouse, managed by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council with considerable input from local volunteers, is the epitome of the community serving the community.
The Epsom & Ewell Business Excellence Awards, Best Business for Commitment to the Community category is sponsored by TWM Solicitors.
For more information on Epsom Playhouse visit www.epsomplayhouse.co.uk
For more information on the Epsom & Ewell Business Awards visit http://epsombusinessawards.co.uk/
Council services over Christmas and the New Year
The majority of Council services will operate as normal over the festive period but there are some changes, to take into account Bank Holidays and to ensure we provide best value for the taxpayer.
In emergencies, the Council can be contacted on 01372 732000 - this service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ashley Road cemetery
The cemetery will be open as normal for visitors over the Christmas/New Year period.
Bourne Hall
Saturday 24 December; open (restricted hours tbc)
Sunday 25 December; closed
Monday 26 December; closed as normal
Tuesday 27 December; closed
Wednesday 28 December; open (restricted hours tbc)
Thursday 29 December; open (restricted hours tbc)
Friday 30 December; open (restricted hours tbc)
Saturday 31 December; open (restricted hours tbc)
Sunday 1 January; closed
Monday 2 January; closed as normal
From Tuesday 3 January; normal opening hours.
Community Alarm
Monitoring Centre operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year.
Administration, enquiries and repair service:
Saturday 24 December; closed as normal
Sunday 25 December; closed as normal
Monday 26 December; closed
Tuesday 27 December; closed
Wednesday 28 December; open as normal
Thursday 29 December; closed
Friday 30 December; closed
Saturday 31 December; closed as normal
Sunday 1 January; closed as normal
Monday 2 January; closed
From Tuesday 3 January; normal opening hours.
Ebbisham Centre
Saturday 24 December; open 7.45am - 5pm
Sunday 25 December; closed
Monday 26 December; closed
Tuesday 27 December; closed
Wednesday 28 December; open as normal
Thursday 29 December; open as normal
Friday 30 December; open as normal
Saturday 31 December; closed as normal
Sunday 1 January; open 7.45am - 5pm
From Monday 2 January; normal opening hours.
Harrier centre
The Harrier Centre will be open as normal on Friday 23 December and be closed from Saturday 24 December until Tuesday 3 January when it will be open as normal.
Longmead Centre
Saturday 24 December; closed as normal
Sunday 25 December; closed as normal
Monday 26 December; closed
Tuesday 27 December; closed
Wednesday 28 December; open 9am - 4pm
Thursday 29 December; open 9am - 4pm
Friday 30 December; open 9am - 4pm
Saturday 31 December; closed as normal
Sunday 1 January; closed as normal
Monday 2 January; closed
Tuesday 3 January; normal opening hours.
Markets
The Farmers Market, that normally takes place on the first Sunday of the month will not be operating on 1 January.
Meals on Wheels
Saturday 24 December; closed as normal
Sunday 25 December; closed as normal
Monday 26 December; closed
Tuesday 27 December; closed
Wednesday 28 December; hot meals delivered as normal
Thursday 29 December; hot meals delivered as normal
Friday 30 December; hot meals delivered as normal
Saturday 31 December; closed as normal
Sunday 1 January; closed as normal
Monday 2 January; closed
From Tuesday 3 January; normal operating hours.
Note: Frozen meals can be provided in advance for when hot meal deliveries do not take place - these need to be booked in advance.
Nature reserves
Local nature reserves operate normal opening hours across the festive period. However some facilities (including public conveniences were present) may be closed on the Bank Holidays.
Parks
Parks are open as normal across the festive period.
Routecall
Saturday 24 December; not operating
Sunday 25 December; not operating
Monday 26 December; not operating
Tuesday 27 December; not operating
Wednesday 28 December; operating as normal
Thursday 29 December; not operating
Friday 30 December; not operating
Saturday 31 December; not operating
Sunday 1 January; not operating
Monday 2 January; not operating
From Tuesday 3 January; normal operating hours.
Rubbish and Recycling collections
Changes to the normal collection times over the Christmas and New Year period are highlighted elsewhere in this e-newsletter.
Shopping service
Last Deliveries 23 December & 30 December.
Normal deliveries resume on Tuesday 3 January.
Telecare
Monitoring Centre operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year.
Administration, enquiries and repair service - see Town Hall.
Town Hall
Saturday 24 December; closed as normal
Sunday 25 December; closed as normal
Monday 26 December; closed
Tuesday 27 December; closed
Wednesday 28 December; closed
Thursday 29 December; open as normal
Friday 30 December; open as normal
Saturday 31 December; closed as normal
Sunday 1 January; closed as normal
Monday 2 January; closed
From Tuesday 3 January; normal operating hours.
Wellbeing Centre
Saturday 24 December; closed as normal
Sunday 25 December; closed as normal
Monday 26 December; closed
Tuesday 27 December; closed
Wednesday 28 December; open 9am - 2pm
Thursday 29 December; open 9am - 2pm
Friday 30 December; open 9am - 2pm
Saturday 31 December; closed as normal
Sunday 1 January; closed as normal
Monday 2 January; closed
Tuesday 3 January: open 9am - 2pm
From Wednesday 4 January; normal operating hours
Think before you drink!
Could the amount you drink be affecting your health?
With the festive season on its way, thinking about the amount we drink is probably not particularly welcome. However many of us like to unwind with a quick beer or a glass of wine but if you’re not careful the occasional glass in the evening can turn into two or three glasses most days – so why not make time to check how much you’re drinking and if this could be affecting your health?
Men and women shouldn’t drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which is the same as about six pints of average strength beer a week or six 175ml glasses of wine. If you’re regularly drinking more than this you could be damaging your health.
Why cut down?
Once you start drinking a little less, you’ll probably start noticing the benefits quite quickly. But if you’re struggling for motivation here are three of the best reasons to cut back on alcohol:
- Get healthy – drinking too much can increase your risk of developing health issues such as high blood pressure, liver and heart disease and some types of cancer.
- Save money – cutting back will have a positive impact on your wallet as the cost of drinking alcohol can quickly add up. Think how much you could save for things like a holiday, new clothes or a meal out if you spent less on alcohol.
- More energy – alcohol can stop you from sleeping deeply, so drinking less should help you feel more rested, make you livelier and give you better concentration.
The best way to get started is to find out how much you’re drinking, so why don’t you take the Don’t Bottle It Up alcohol test? It’s a quick, easy way to check whether you’re putting your health in danger as a result of your drinking. You’ll be able to access personalised online advice and support, and also find out where you can get local face-to-face help. Visit the Healthy Surrey website to take the test and find out more about cutting down.