Planning Committee on 30 September decides 35 homes in Merstham and a 64-bed Banstead care home; full council on 1 October votes on the leader.

Two Reigate and Banstead Borough Council meetings with published agendas fall in the week from Monday 28 September. Both are at the Town Hall on Castlefield Road in Reigate, both start at 7.30pm, and both are open to the public and webcast.

The Planning Committee on Wednesday decides four applications, including 35 homes in Merstham. Full council on Thursday votes on a motion of no confidence in the council leader.

Planning Committee: Wednesday 30 September, 7.30pm

Agenda and reports. Officers recommend approval for all four applications.

35 homes south of Woodlands Close, Merstham (25/02301/OUT). This is an outline application from H2 Properties, deciding only the access for now. The land is allocated for housing in the 2019 local plan as site ERM4b. The officer report says:

  • 12 of the 35 homes (35%) would be affordable, 60% of those at affordable or social rent and 40% shared ownership
  • the affordable mix is three one-beds, seven two-beds and two three-beds
  • the developer would pay £8,868 towards the School Hill junction with the A23 London Road
  • 45 letters of representation came in from residents and the Woodlands Close Management Company, raising flooding, drainage, traffic, access rights and loss of privacy among other concerns

64-bed dementia care home, 34 and 34A Garratts Lane, Banstead (26/00734/F). Beulah Hill Developments LLP wants to demolish the existing buildings and build a specialist dementia care home over four floors, including a basement. The report describes an arts and crafts design, mostly two and a half storeys, with a hairdresser, activity room and cinema for residents. No representations had been received.

Food technology block, Carrington School, Noke Drive, Redhill (25/01938/F). A single-storey block with two practical classrooms, a prep room, office and toilets, on grass inside the school site. The report says it would not increase pupil or staff numbers. One neighbour comment was received, neither for nor against.

Firbank, Holly Lane, Banstead (26/01215/HHOLD). Two two-storey side extensions and a raised roof on a detached house, following an earlier permission for a similar scheme, 25/01645/HHOLD. It comes to committee rather than being decided by officers because, the report says, “the agent is a Councillor and member of the planning committee”. The agent is named as The Michael Blacker Partnership. No neighbours responded.

This is one of the last 15-member Planning Committees. From 31 October national rules cap the committee at 13 and send more decisions to officers, as we reported this month.

Full council: Thursday 1 October, 7.30pm

Agenda and reports. The items that matter most:

  • Motion of no confidence in the Leader, Cllr Richard Biggs. Proposed by Cllr Mark Smith and seconded by Cllr Rod Ashford. No group has a majority on the 45-seat council. Our full story has the motion’s wording and the numbers in the chamber.
  • Polling places from 1 December. Councillors are asked to approve new polling places, ready for the town and parish council elections on 6 May 2027, according to the review report. We covered the proposed changes when the consultation opened.
  • Planning Committee reforms. The changes to delegation and committee membership needed before 31 October.
  • Committee seats. A review of political balance after the Hooley, Merstham and Netherne by-election in August.
  • Harlequin Theatre questions. Two members of the public ask the Leader about access for amateur groups when the theatre reopens.
  • Executive recommendations from the 24 September meeting, with the detail in an addendum still to be published.

What it means for you

  • Anyone can attend both meetings in the public gallery, or watch the webcast from the meeting pages linked above.
  • Questions about attending or speaking go to Democratic Services, on 01737 276182 or democratic@reigate-banstead.gov.uk, the contact both agendas give.
  • The council’s own online forms and planning register will be offline from 9am on Saturday 26 September until the morning of Monday 28 September for maintenance, the council’s website says. Check any comment deadlines this weekend with that in mind.

The next meeting in the calendar is the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 8 October.