Press Release: Appointments of Council Chair & Town Mayor and Vice-Chair & Deputy Town Mayor 2026/27
Horley Town Council
Press Release: May 2026
Appointments of Council Chair and Town Mayor & Vice-Chair and Deputy Town Mayor 2026/27
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Left to right: Council Chair and Town Mayor, Cllr Lynnette Easterbrook, and Vice-Chair and Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Sam Mearing.
At the Annual Meeting of Horley Town Council, held on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, Members re-elected Cllr Lynnette Easterbrook as Council Chair and Town Mayor for the Municipal Year for 2026/27. Cllr Sam Mearing was elected as Vice-Chair and Deputy Town Mayor.
Cllr Easterbrook moved to Horley with her family in 1993. Before she retired, she was Head of Student Support at a London College and volunteered for many years as a reader for Tandridge Talking Newspapers for the Blind. She is currently a governor at Trinity Oaks School. She cares deeply about sustainability, community and equal access to educational and cultural activities. She is looking forward to helping Horley to grow as a friendly, thriving and inclusive place for residents and visitors alike.
On accepting her appointment as Council Chair and Town Mayor, Cllr Easterbrook expressed her appreciation and said:
“I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been re-elected as Chair of Horley Town Council and Town Mayor. In my role as Town Mayor during the last year, it has been an honour to meet the individuals and groups who bring so much to the life of the town. As we enter a period of local government reorganisation and devolution, I look forward to working closely with my fellow councillors, our excellent team of officers and our local authority partners, to ensure that Horley's voice is heard loud and clear in shaping our future. Prioritising green spaces and leisure facilities for the well being of our residents will be key this year.
During the last year, Horley Town Council has successfully bid for funds for the installation of outdoor gym equipment at some parks and open spaces along with neurodiversity play equipment at Court Lodge Fields and replacement windows at the Innes Pavilion. With the support of the Council, I was also privileged to inaugurate a community arts festival in Horley in April, highlighting the wealth of talent and creativity in our town. I am pleased to report that the Mayor’s Charitable fund stands at £1063, to be shared between Churches for Horley Foodbank and Lymphoma Action.
I am delighted to be working closely with Cllr Mearing, as we continue to support the residents of our vibrant and growing town.”
In her concluding address, Cllr Easterbrook thanked the outgoing deputy Chair, Cllr Fagan, for her hard work over the last year and congratulated Cllr Mearing on her appointment as Vice-Chair and Deputy Town Mayor, wishing her every success and fulfilment in the role.
On accepting her appointment as Council Vice-Chair and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mearing said:
“I’m very excited at being elected as Deputy Chair of Horley Town Council and Deputy Mayor and very much welcome the opportunity to work with Cllr Easterbrook, and meet the individuals and groups that contribute so much to our town.
With the advent of local government reorganisation and devolution, I’m committed to working with fellow councillors, town council officers, and partners to ensure our town has a strong voice in shaping its future, with a focus on enhancing green spaces and strengthening leisure facilities for residents’ wellbeing.
I’d like to thank Cllr Fagan for her hard work and hope I can continue the good work she has been doing.
I am passionate about doing what I can to improve and maintain a clean and welcoming environment within Horley town, including the roundabout rewilding project (Upfield and Cheyne Walk), Wombles litter picking and Residents Speed Watch.”
In a joint statement they both said:
'We are delighted to be working together in a year of great change and development, putting Horley residents first and foremost. We are committed to ensuring that Horley continues to thrive and grow, building a community built on pride and respect'.
At the first meeting of the Municipal Year, all Members were appointed to the main Committees, and Sub-Committees. Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs will be elected at the first meetings of these committees respectively. The schedule of Council meetings for the Municipal Year 2026/27 is available on the Town Council’s website.
ENDS
