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Leaders message
Dear Resident,
Council Tax can be difficult to understand. To help explain where your money goes, we’ve put together this leaflet.
Most of your money goes to Surrey County Council and Surrey Police, the remaining 11% is spent in
Surrey Heath.
We’re passionate about “Delivering for You and a Fairer Society” by supporting residents in greatest need and building positive community partnerships. We will help businesses to grow faster, and control building development. We commit to tackling climate change, maintaining our fantastic green spaces and keeping our streets clean and safe.
That’s where we will use your money. Our finances, like your household budget, are under a lot of pressure. In part this is due to a fall in real term funding allocated to Surrey Heath by national government. This means we must continue to focus on ensuring value for money for every pound we spend.
Please read on to understand more, as this is your council, and together our Surrey Heath to make a better place for all to live.
Take care,
Shaun Macdonald, Leader,
Surrey Heath Borough Council.
How you Council Tax is shared out
We collect Council Tax from almost 40,000 households within Surrey Heath on behalf of other local authorities and the police in our area. Only 11% of your Council Tax stays with us, helping to fund a wide range of services to support our local communities.
How is your Council Tax funded?
Your Council Tax funds most of the services provided to residents across the whole borough. The rest is funded through central government grants and the retention of some business rates.
While many councils are having to consider cuts, by contrast Surrey Heath’s latest budget will deliver investment in our properties and town and village centre improvements. Despite cost increases we have committed to continue providing frontline services like Meals at Home and maintaining our excellent parks and green spaces.
Why is my Council Tax increasing?
Surrey Heath has increased Council Tax by 2.99% in 2024/25 which is well below inflation and works out to just £7.20 a year, or 14p a week, for an average Band D property.
Some of the services we provide
Waste and Recycling
Recycling including food waste, refuse collections, bulky waste, street cleaning and garden waste.
Planning and Licensing
Planning applications and enforcement, Building Control, Licensing and Local Plan development.
Environment
Reducing carbon emissions, flytip clearance, parks and countryside maintenance and air quality monitoring.
Resident Support
Benefits, community safety, environmental health, housing and homelessness support, family support, grant funding, transport and meals at home.
Business Support
Independent business network, business rate advice and collection, and retail initiatives for small businesses.
Sport and Leisure
Museum, theatre, sports and activity programmes, health walks, community development and the council’s leisure centre.
Our vision for Surrey Heath
Delivering for you and a fairer society
Our vision is to secure improvements in the quality of life and opportunities for all of our residents and businesses, whilst ensuring sustainable council finances to deliver core services effectively. We believe our residents and businesses deserve nothing less.
Having listened to our residents, we will achieve our vision through the delivery of the following five priorities:
Protect Our Environment
We recognise that urgent action is needed to protect and sustain what we have for both current and future generations.
Deliver Effective Services with Sustainable Finances
We know that the delivery of easy to access, effective and responsive public services are what our residents expect and deserve, so we will accelerate our improvements.
Promote Healthier & More Inclusive Communities
We believe in a community where everyone can be themselves, and be valued for who they are, with the opportunity to build a good life and achieve their full potential.
Campaign for Residents
We will give residents a greater voice in shaping the council’s activities and decision making. We will stand up for what is most important for local residents.
Support a Strong Economy and Create More Homes
We recognise the essential role of local business in driving our economy and creating jobs. We want to be seen as a great place to live, build, invest and grow a business.