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 Council's 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 Town Council allotments cover a site of just over two acres at the corner of Sangers
Drive and Church Road, comprising 62 plots. Plot hire is £18 per annum. If you are interested
in renting an allotment, contact Horley Town Council for further information. There is currently
a long waiting list.
Albert Rooms
The site of the Albert Rooms is now the new home for the Town Council offices. The building
has been extended and refurbished to a high standard. The hall is hired to the general public
for functions and weekly classes and is used on Tuesday evenings for council meetings. The
regular hirers include, Kidzone (after school club), Pilates, Yoga, Kickboxing, Mad Academy,
Tai Chi and Art classes as well as the Pentecostal Church on a Sunday morning.
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. The Council is applying for a Football Foundation Grant to install drainage on part
of the fields and to build another full size football pitch.
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 is a very popular place 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.
The Council is consulting residents and groups regarding the adjacent ‘old squash court’.
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.
The popular skate park was installed in 2002, followed by the multi-purpose court
for use by residents of all ages. The children’s playground is regularly updated
with new equipment which conform to Government safety regulations. An annual
inspection of all equipment is undertaken, with weekly inspections by a local
contractor.
War Memorial
Adjacent to the Horley 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 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.
