A copy of Cllr Ann-Marie Barker’s budget statement presented to Council on Thursday 23 February 2023.

“In presenting a budget to you tonight I will set out how this Liberal Democrat administration is taking responsibility for recovery in this Council. I will share a little history, tell you what we have done in nine months, our ask for Council Tax this year and I will talk about a vision for the future of this borough with a successful Council working in partnership with thriving local communities.

Watch a webcast of the meeting of Full Council, which took place on Thursday 23 February 2023.

Woking Borough Council’s financial plans for 2023/24 will be decided by elected members at an Extraordinary Council meeting on Thursday (23 February 2023).

Last week, Woking Borough Council's Executive agreed a pathway to implement a new Masterplan for Woking town centre which, among other sustainable place-making factors, will limit the heights of future developments in the town.
 
The Executive meeting supported a timetable for the implementation of a robust planning document that will introduce legal controls on future development in the area, ensuring new homes meet the needs of residents and enhance the overall appearance of the town centre.
 

A watchful eye will soon be looking over the borough’s fly-tipping hotspots, as mobile CCTV cameras will soon be deployed to help deter and identify illegal fly-tippers.

It is estimated that fly-tipping costs local taxpayers more than £30,000 a year to clear up and dispose of the dumped waste.

The mobile cameras will be moved around areas of the borough that are blighted by incidents of fly-tipping. The battery and solar powered cameras can continuously record and can easily be attached to infrastructure, such as lampposts and buildings, to deter potential offenders.

(Published on behalf of Woking Community Fund)

On Thursday 19 January the Woking Community Fund held an evening reception, hosted by local businessman and Vice President at the Community Foundation for Surrey, Shahid Azeem, for Woking businesses and representatives from Woking Borough Council. The aim of the evening was to launch a fundraising appeal that is supported by Woking Borough Council with match-funding.

The Mayor of Woking, Cllr Saj Hussain, joined thousands across the nation in lighting a candle of remembrance to mark Holocaust Memorial Day today (Friday 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. 

This winter over 2,000 Woking residents have found warmth at the borough’s 19 warm hubs as the cost of living crisis continues to soar.

Warm hubs are a national concept which are playing an instrumental role in helping those impacted by the rising cost of living, especially during periods of extreme cold weather. Visitors are also using the hubs to connect with others within the local community and find additional support.

Woking’s community meals service is currently offering a free two day trial for potential new clients to experience the hassle-free meals and sample the food on offer.

The service, operated by Woking Borough Council, supports 200 residents across Woking, delivering a variety of meals, 365 days a year.

Community meals offer a range of fully flexible options:

This week a specialist team, appointed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), has commenced a non-statutory review into Woking Borough Council’s finances, investments and related governance. 
 
The review is being conducted by an experienced team including two senior local authority officers and one individual with private commercial experience. When complete, the final report will be made publicly available on the Government’s website and also signposted via the Council’s website.
 

In the lead up to the Coronation of King Charles III, Woking Borough Council reminds residents who are considering hosting a street party that they will need to apply for a road closure.

The Coronation will be marked by a three-day bank holiday weekend from Saturday 6 May until Monday 8 May 2023. Residents looking to close their road for a street party over this period should apply to the council before Friday 24 March 2023.

Residents in Woking borough will need to show photographic ID to vote at this year’s local election on Thursday 4 May 2023.

The new national requirement, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act, was passed last year and comes into effect for the first time this May.  To help residents to prepare in advance, Woking Borough Council is asking residents to check if they already have accepted forms of photo ID. These include:

Local people have until Friday 27 January 2023 to submit their nominations for this year’s Young People’s Civic Awards Scheme, which promotes and rewards community spirit in young people.

The scheme, run by Woking Borough Council, recognises children and young people who have achieved exceptional success in areas that are not normally acknowledged by formal accreditation.

Nominees are being sought in the following three categories: