Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has approved its balanced budget for 2026/27.

As part of the budget, the council has decided to freeze their portion of Council Tax.

Before finalising the budget, there was an eight-week public consultation on the draft budget proposals; 74% of residents welcomed the proposal to freeze their share of Council Tax.

Two Crawley sisters have been ordered to pay back nearly £220,000 after stealing items from duty free at Gatwick Airport.

Laura and Georgina Epitropou, both from Crawley, were each jailed for two and a half years after being sentenced in September 2024.

The Epitropous were arrested boarding a flight from Belfast to Gatwick carrying £2,000 in stolen items in their suitcase.

The Crown Prosecution Service said bank records revealed the sisters had made £40,000 in 10 months.

Residents are invited to join our Worth Park Wanders walks, held twice a month, encouraging those of all ages to get active, connect with nature and explore the park’s rich heritage, wildlife and landscape.

The hour-long health walks are held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, meeting at 10.30am at Ridley’s Court (near Milton Mount). Every second Thursday is the chance to amble at a steady pace, with a slightly shorter walk around the park and lake. The fourth Thursday health walks are longer, with no breaks and a chance to step up your fitness.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Crawley Borough Council, and Councillor Chris Mullins, Cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing, and local ward councillors Nick Hilton and Tina Belben joined this week’s walk, showing their support for initiatives that promote wellbeing and community participation.

Worth Park is one of our most treasured green spaces, and these guided walks are a wonderful way for residents to discover its beauty while enjoying gentle exercise and good company. We’re delighted to see such strong community interest, and we look forward to welcoming even more people to future walks.

Councillor Chris Mullins

Cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing

Crawley Borough Council

Worth Park, which is one of our six award-winning Green Flag parks, has formal gardens, a Victorian fountain, an Arboretum, a lake that is surrounded with various types of trees and wildflowers, a meadow for biodiversity, croquet lawns and a tennis court. The park is open 24 hours a day. Toilets and parking are available at our visitor centre, Ridleys Court.

At a recent council meeting councillors agreed an increase of 2.99% in Tandridge District Council’s share of council tax for 2026/2027. The meeting also agreed the Council’s budget for next year.

The Council’s share of Band D council tax will increase to £259.86. This is around £4.98 a week, an increase of 14p from last year. This will help pay for a wide range of vital services like recycling and waste collections, parks and open spaces and supporting the most vulnerable residents.

This year’s Band D council tax will be £2,550.85, which equates to around 98% of the total amount. This amount is divided among the different organisations as follows:

• 75% (£1,938.42) Surrey County Council.
• 13% (£352.57) Surrey Police.
• 10% (£259.86) Tandridge District Council.

The above Band D figure does not include parish precepts, which vary across the district, but average at about 2% of the total.

Visit www.tandridge.gov.uk/counciltax for full details about council tax, along with quick and easy ways to pay council tax. In March, bills will arrive, by post, or e-mail if residents have opted in to e-billing.

Help and advice about paying bills is available on the guidance and support web page or from Citizens Advice.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Catherine Sayer, said: “I know that any increase in council tax is unwelcome. We have tried hard to keep down the cost and at the same time, provide value for money services to residents and businesses.

Our increase for a typical household is 14p a week, but the increases from the other organisations add to your bill. I urge anyone who may struggle to pay to contact us.”