Surrey Heath Borough Council is currently in the process of considering a Community Governance Review of Windlesham Parish Council.
In addition to Windlesham, the Parish Council covers the villages of Bagshot and Lightwater, serving a population of approximately 17,000 residents. This represents around a fifth of the Borough in terms of both population and land area.
In March this year, Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) received a request to create a new parish area for the area of Windlesham. This request came from a mixture of residents, Parish Councillors in Windlesham, and Liberal Democrat Borough Councillor Richard Wilson, who described the current Parish Council as "inefficient" with its meetings achieving "very little", due to the Council being "too big" with 18 Parish Councillors attending every monthly meeting.
The purpose of a Community Governance Review would evaluate the options for reorganising the Parish Council, this may include boundary changes, the creation or removal of a Parish Council, or changes to the Parish wards. SHBC is seeking Parishioners views on whether it would be appropriate or not to undertake such a review.
Commenting, Cllr Richard Tear, Surrey County Councillor for Bagshot, Windlesham and Chobham, said:
"I always enjoy my visits to Chobham Parish Council which to me is a great example of a small and focussed council that looks after and cares for its residents in an exemplary way.
"I would like to say the same of Windlesham Parish Council but it’s very size and the fact that it represents three villages makes its role so complex. Conflicting pressure for resources is also a major issue.
"The Windlesham Committee have asked for a review as per the post below. Can I please encourage any resident who has a view to pick up this post on the Windlesham Community webpage and fill in the survey."
Cllr Mark Gordon, Windlesham Parish Councillor and Surrey Heath Borough Councillor, said:
"SHBC is consulting on Windlesham Parish Council, there has been a request from Windlesham to break away from the Three Village Council and form their own new separate Parish Council.
"As this effect residents in all the villages it would be great if as many people as possible have their say.
"Please take a minute and fill in the survey from SHBC linked below please."
You can share your views by completing a short survey here before 17:00pm on Monday 16th September.
