Woking has been ranked one of the UK’s best places to live and work in the annual UK Vitality Index 2024 – the fourth consecutive year the town has featured in the top three.

Compiled by Lambert Smith Hampton, the ‘definitive health check on the UK’s towns and cities’ assesses locations outside London to identify the best places to live, work and do business, in addition to those with the highest growth potential.

Woking Borough Council is working with the Electoral Commission to promote its ‘Welcome to Your Vote Week’ campaign, which encourages young people to learn more about how democracy works and register to vote.

Beginning on Monday 29 January, this year’s theme is ‘Your Voice Matters’, which celebrates the impact everyone can make through the democratic system on issues important to them.

Woking Borough Council will join thousands of individuals and organisations across the nation in lighting a candle of remembrance to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (Saturday 27 January). 

The lit candle is a symbol of solidarity and reflection to remember the countless lives that have been lost or impacted by genocide. 

Woking Borough Council will join thousands of individuals and organisations across the nation in lighting a candle of remembrance to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (Saturday 27 January). 

The lit candle is a symbol of solidarity and reflection to remember the countless lives that have been lost or impacted by genocide. 

View the agenda and reports pack for the meeting of Full Council.

Watch the live webcast of the meeting of Full Council on Thursday 8 February, starting at 7pm.

Detailed proposals that will deliver over £8 million in council service-related savings and support the delivery of a balanced budget for the next financial year have been published.

Last night (18 January 2024), members of Woking Borough Council’s Executive agreed to reallocate £601,000 of external funding to support six community projects.

In 2022 the council received £1million from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which was launched to help councils build pride in place and increase life chances.

Last night (Thursday 18 January) members of Woking Borough Council’s Executive recommended a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Policy for adoption.

The policy sets out a framework for the transfer of council assets, such as centres for the community and pavilions, to community groups for the benefit of local residents.

Additionally, it will allow the council to make essential budget savings and focus its resources into financing core services.

On 25 May 2023, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced an intervention package and a set of Directions to ensure that Woking Borough Council was able to comply with its Best Value Duty under Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999.  

Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said: “Following a constructive meeting yesterday [11 January 2024], I have today written to the Minister for Local Government, Simon Hoare, to confirm the support package from Government that allows us to set a budget next year.

“The government considers that an increase in Woking Borough Council’s proportion of Council Tax of up to 10% from April is appropriate and proportionate. Alongside the service changes and staffing reductions the council needs to make this will allow us to live within our means in future.

Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said: "Yesterday I received a letter from Simon Hoare, Minister for Local Government that reflects the positive and collaborative approach that we have taken to working with Government and the steps that we are taking to ensure we live within our means.  

"The letter outlines the principles government will follow in working towards our shared objective of returning Woking to long term sustainability and enable the Council to set a legal budget in February.  

The nominations process for the annual Young People’s Civic Awards Scheme 2024 has begun. 

The search is now on for local young people who have achieved exceptional success in areas that are not normally recognised by formal accreditation and deserve recognition for their efforts. 

Nominees are being sought in the following three categories.

Following a self-referral earlier this year, the Regulator for Social Housing has today (Thursday 14 December) issued Woking Borough Council with a regulatory notice for breaching the Home Standard in respect of fire safety. 

The notice states that the council does not have effective systems in place to manage its health and safety responsibilities, specifically the timely resolution of fire safety remedial actions and compliance with new carbon monoxide and smoke detector installation regulations.