Surrey Heath Borough Council has published its Annual Report summary for 2023/24, highlighting key accomplishments and introducing a new strategic plan focused on enhancing the quality of life for residents and businesses.
Surrey Heath Borough Council Leader Shaun Macdonald said: “In February 2024, the council approved its new strategy, ‘Delivering for You and a Fairer Society,’ which sets the stage for the borough’s future development.
“The strategy emphasises accountability, community engagement, and transparency, reflecting the aspirations of local residents and stakeholders. It guides the council’s actions from 2024 to 2028, demonstrating the council's commitment to continuous improvement.
“We are proud of the achievements and improvements of the past year, and are working hard to make further progress in our shared priority areas in the future.”
Surrey Heath is a vibrant borough known for its green spaces, strong economy, and commitment to sustainability.
In 2023/24, Surrey Heath maintained its first place in England and Wales for tree coverage with 36.1%, secured 6,000 free trees to boost biodiversity and opened new playgrounds in Bagshot and Camberley. The council also ranked in the top ten in the country for household waste recycling and composting.
The council achieved an 80% first-contact resolution rate in its Contact Centre and collected 99.35% of owed Council Tax, the highest proportion in the country. Additionally, it identified £4.5 million in efficiencies for the 2024/25 budget.
Efforts to foster healthier and more inclusive communities included securing funding for youth employment initiatives, and campaigning for residents following Thames Water's Camberley sewage works incident. Environmental protection initiatives included switching all Meals at Home vans to electric, while the council played a key role in supporting events and initiatives that helped the local economy rebound to 97% of pre-pandemic levels.
The council also relaunched its Youth Council, empowering young residents to influence decisions.
To boost the local economy and address housing needs, the council launched the Economic Development Strategy 2023-26, and approved enabling works for the redevelopment of the former House of Fraser building.
For more details, visit our Annual Plan webpage.