Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to reflect and remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered, and the millions more killed under Nazi persecution and more recent genocides. 

This year’s theme, ‘Bridging Generations’, reflects how remembrance is carried forward over time. It encourages us to stay connected to the past, to learn from it, and to ensure those lessons continue to guide us.  

Woking will join 48 other local planning authorities across England in adopting open digital planning processes, which focus on publishing standardised, accessible planning data to create a more transparent and efficient system. 

Each authority will receive £50,000 to support the transition, enabling data to be published on the national Planning Data platform in a consistent and user‑friendly way, helping to replace information that is currently dispersed across documents or only available by request.

The proposed Fire Safety, Mobility Scooter, Void Management and Good Neighbour Management policies were discussed by the council’s Executive last night (Thursday 22 January 2026) and have been recommended to Council for formal approval.

Read the Executive report and watch the meeting

The government announced last year that Surrey County Council and Surrey’s 11 district and borough councils should reorganise into two new unitary authorities – West Surrey Council and East Surrey Council.

In May, residents will elect councillors who will serve on the new councils, which will initially be ‘shadow authorities’ tasked with setting up the new organisations. 

Social prescribing connects residents who have social, emotional, or practical needs that cannot be addressed via a GP, to a wealth of different services in the borough.

This may include support with mental wellbeing, loneliness, housing, finances and access to local activities and services.

The new tiered approach better aligns with the government’s Neighbourhood Health agenda to ensure residents receive the right level of support while working closely with local partners.

The tiered approach currently being trialled in Woking:

With excellent transport links and convenient on-site parking, the centre offers a range of accessible rooms and facilities that are ideal for community activities, meetings and workshops.

Ahead of the reopening, the centre underwent a thorough deep clean and essential maintenance to ensure it was ready to welcome visitors. 

Outside, the council’s environmental maintenance partner, Krinkels, supported by volunteers from LinkAble, worked hard to tidy and refresh the surrounding outdoor space.

On the key aim of sending as little waste to landfill as possible, Surrey landfills only 0.2% of its total waste, putting the county in 6th place out of 29 similar authorities in England.

When it comes to recycling, Surrey is performing just as effectively, recycling 54.5% of its total waste, which puts the county in joint 2nd place. The rest of Surrey’s waste is turned into energy. 

The project will deliver an upgraded gym, refurbished group cycling studio and refurbished group exercise studios, providing an enhanced fitness experience for the whole of the community.

Improvements include:

This Stage 2 consultation runs from Tuesday 6 January to Saturday 28 February 2026 and forms part of the Pyrford Community Governance Review. 

Following strong support during the initial consultation in October 2025, where 68% of respondents were in favour of a parish council being created, Council agreed to move forward with draft recommendations.

Under the recommendations, a parish council would be created with 10 elected councillors and feature no separate wards. 

Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said: 

The decision follows strong public support during an eight-week consultation on creating a parish council for the Pyrford Neighbourhood Area. Of 446 responses received, 68% agreed that a parish council should be established.

Under the recommendations, a parish council would be created with 10 elected members and no separate wards. If approved, the first election could take place in May 2027, with elections held every four years thereafter.

The List of Locally Listed Heritage Assets or ‘Local List’ recognises buildings and features of local historic or architectural interest such as buildings, structures, gardens and landscapes. The Local List features detailed assessments, offering a clear description and explanation of each asset’s significance.

In the report, prepared for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Commissioners recognise the council’s continued progress in strengthening governance, restoring financial discipline and improving services.

Key points from the report include: