West Sussex County Council has secured over £182.m of Government funding to help deliver better outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

It follows the Department for Education’s approval of the local SEND Reform Plan created jointly by the county council and NHS Surrey and Sussex.

90% of the grant will cover a deficit created by the cost of delivering SEND support in West Sussex being greater than the ring-fenced funding the council receives from the government.

A British Airways flight to Faro was forced to return to Gatwick Airport on Tuesday due to a minor technical issue.

Flight BA2660 was heading to Portugal but diverted over north-western France in order to return to the Surrey airport.

AirNav Radar, a flight data provider, posted on X that “a passenger window is cracked.”

A spokesperson for British Airways said the plane landed safely at Gatwick due to a “minor technical issue” and passengers were due to resume their journey.

Visitors to Tilgate Zoo helped raise more than £1,000 for international wildlife conservation charity TRAFFIC during a successful fundraising weekend in August.

Despite a full day of rain on the Saturday, visitors turned out in support of the event, which featured animal encounters, games, prizes and activities designed to highlight the challenges posed by illegal wildlife trade and the importance of protecting threatened species around the world.

The money raised will support TRAFFIC, the international wildlife trade monitoring network, in its work to tackle illegal wildlife trafficking and promote the sustainable use of wild species.

Tilgate Zoo would like to thank everyone who attended, donated and supported the event throughout the weekend.

Deputy Mayor of Crawley, Councillor Imran Ashraf, attended the fundraiser and praised the efforts of staff and volunteers.

I was delighted to attend this fantastic event and see first-hand the commitment and enthusiasm shown by the visitors, staff and volunteers at Tilgate Zoo. Their dedication to conservation and education is clear, and it is inspiring to see such strong support for TRAFFIC and the important work they undertake globally. It was wonderful to see the community come together to support both the zoo and its chosen charity.

Councillor Imran Ashraf

Deputy Mayor of Crawley

Crawley Borough Council

Tilgate Zoo regularly supports conservation organisations through fundraising and educational activities, helping visitors learn more about the challenges facing wildlife and the actions needed to protect species for future generations.

Visit the Tilgate Zoo websiteOpens in new window to find out more about the zoo and to book tickets.

Surrey County Council have reported that more than 800,000 new trees have been planted over the past five years, surpassing its initial target of just 600,000.

The Council has committed to 1.2 million trees being planted by 2030, representing one for every resident and is “broadly on track” to meet its net zero targets.

But despite this, calls are being made to ask the future East Surrey Council to consider tree survival rates.

It’s alleged that many trees were said to be dying within a year because of not receiving the right aftercare.

Consultations are launching across Surrey to help shape the Council Tax Reduction Schemes that will operate from April 2027.

Residents who currently receive Council Tax Reduction (CTR), as well as people who support them, are being asked to share their views on proposals for the schemes that will operate in the new East and West Surrey Councils from April 2027.

From 1 April 2027, Surrey County Council and Surrey’s 11 district and borough councils will be replaced by two new unitary authorities: East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council.

As part of this change, a number of services and arrangements currently operated separately by the district and borough councils will need to be brought together. This includes Council Tax administration and Council Tax Reduction Schemes.

At present, each district and borough council has its own Council Tax Reduction Scheme, meaning the eligibility criteria and level of support available can differ depending on where someone lives. For people on low incomes, or who claim benefits, Council Tax Reduction reduces a household’s Council Tax liability, providing important financial support.

The two new councils will each need to have a single Council Tax Reduction Scheme covering their own area. Draft proposals for the new schemes have now been agreed for consultation, following a review of the existing schemes across Surrey and the differences between them.

The aim of the consultation is to help ensure the new schemes are fair, sustainable and meet the needs of residents across Surrey. The draft proposals set out how the new schemes could operate from April 2027.

No final decisions have been made on the schemes, and existing support will remain in place while the consultation takes place. The consultation gives residents and relevant organisations an opportunity to consider the proposals and share their views before final recommendations are considered by the new councils.

Consultations for the draft East Surrey Council Tax Reduction Schemes will run from 7 October to 3 December 2026.

We particularly want to hear from people who currently receive Council Tax Reduction, as well as others who support residents who may be affected by the proposed changes.

Your feedback will be considered alongside the other consultation responses and will help inform the recommendations made before the final schemes are agreed.

The East Surrey Council consultation can be viewed at www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk/ctrs-eastsurrey

Accessible versions of the consultation are available, and paper copies will also be available at the Town Hall and community centres.

East Surrey Shadow Cllr Andy Burton, Portfolio Holder for Finance & Resources, said: “Council Tax Reduction is an important source of financial support for eligible residents, and I would strongly encourage anyone affected to take part in the consultation.

“No final decisions have been made, and existing support will remain in place while the consultation takes place. Your views will help decision-makers understand the potential impact of the proposals before the final scheme is agreed.”

More information about Local Government Reorganisation and the new East and West Surrey Councils is available by visiting the Future Surrey website: https://www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk/