Welcome To Horley Town Council
The Parish
of Horley was created in 1894. Following a variety of successive local government re-organisations, the Parish Council eventually
became a Town Council and changed its name in 1974. It is a busy council,
and its complement of seven councillors has increased gradually over the years to its present strength
of eighteen. Eighteen councillors are elected every 4 years.
Town Councillors do not receive any payment and offer their time voluntarily
for the benefit of the community. The Chairman (and Town Mayor) is appointed by
the 18 councillors at the Annual General Meeting in May and usually serves for a
period of one year.
Local Government
Local Government in England is conducted through
different levels of organisation. Horley Town Council is closest to the local
community and represents the first of the three tiers of Local Government, which
comprise Parish and Town Councils; Borough or District Councils and County
Councils. The Town Council liaises constantly not only with its larger
neighbours, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and with Surrey County
Council and but also with many other voluntary and official bodies.
Hence all three organisations have different responsibilities but enjoy close working relationships. Each body of local government is run
independently and is controlled by its own set of democratically elected councillors.
Town Councils Functions and Responsibilities
The duties of the Town Council are quite varied. It has
many powers which are granted by Act of Parliament. The Council responds to many
consultation papers and lobbies other bodies on important matters on behalf of
local residents and businesses. Town Councillors are also appointed to represent
the Council on various local groups and organisations. The Town Council ensures
that local views are made known at Borough and County Council. For instance the
Planning & Development Committee is a statutory consultee on planning
applications. A fuller explanation is available in the committee section of this site.
The Town Council has specific responsibility for:
Allotments
The former Parish Council purchased the site of just over two acres at the
corner of Sangers Drive and Church Road comprising 62 plots in 1957. Plot hire
is just £10.00 per annum. If interested in renting an allotment and cultivating
produce or flowers then contact the Town Council for further information.
Albert Rooms
In Albert Road, the property was purchased by the Town
Council in 1985, and comprises a hall, a small suite of offices, a garden and a car park. The hall is hired to the general public for functions or weekly
classes and and The Citizens Advice Bureau also uses the offices. Hirers include Kidzone (after school
club), Country Dancing, Jo Jingles (pre-school music group), pilates, kickboxing and art classes.
Click here
for further information on fees and facilities.
Court Lodge Playing Fields
At the playing fields, there
are four football pitches and a children’s playground, a cricket field and a
basketball practice square. The football pitches are hired to local league teams on a regular weekly basis, but they are also available to
book on a casual basis. Male and female changing facilities are provided. Contact Council for rates
and availability.
Click here
for further information on Pitch Hire.
Emlyn Meadows
This beautiful eleven-acre strip of meadow and woodland,
bordered by the Burstow Stream, was purchased in 1978. This ensured that it was preserved for the use of
local people as an informal recreation area. It continues to be a very popular spot for leisure and dog walking.
Michael Crescent Playground
This one-acre site in southwest Horley was purchased by
the Town Council in 1975. There is a children’s playground and an open area of
grass with facilities for five-a-side football. It is the home of 1st Horley Scouts
who occupy the old squash court, built during the war by Canadian forces.
A23 Horley Recreation Ground
From its own resources, Horley Parish Council purchased the freehold of this
prime site on the Brighton Road in 1924. It paid for the construction of the
bowling green in 1964, for three hard tennis courts in 1974, the children’s
playground in 1987, the Ornamental Gardens in 1988 and the skate park in 2002.
Apart from free tennis and other facilities described, there is a large grassed
area where children can play and adults relax or walk their dogs.
War Memorial
Adjacent to the A23 Recreation Ground this is, arguably,
the most attractive and best maintained war memorial monument and garden in the
Borough. The striking gates were designed by a pupil of local Oakwood School. The
monument is illuminated during the Winter months
and is a perfect setting for the Royal British Legion’s Annual Service of Remembrance.
The Council Offices
These are leased from the Surrey County Council. The Council Chamber is used
predominantly for meetings of the Town Council and its Committees, but is also
available for small conferences or meetings. Eight parking spaces in front of
the Council Offices are leased to people who work locally. The garage is let to
the Borough Council’s Horley Day Centre for the storage of its proud new minibus
called “Gladys”.