Current situation

Bookham is currently unparished. The Residents’ Association does not have statutory status and cannot raise funds via Council Tax. It is also not bound by the Nolan standards on conduct in public life.

Proposed change

The initial round of consultation generated a small response with little support expressed for forming a Parish Council mixed results. So Mole Valley decided not to put the option of a Parish Council to residents in the second consultation. 

So Bookham residents are not being offered a chance to vote on this, but residents are still able to submit their views directly. Bookham is the only part of Mole Valley where there is not a formal proposal for a Parish Council. 

Issues to consider

• Representation
  • The area of Bookham, Fetcham & Leatherhead is currently covered by 17 elected councillors – two County councillors and 15 District Councillors. With a Unitary Council, this would be cut to 4. 
  • They provide support for residents, not just in their dealings with the Councils but also with other local service providers, such as police, health, housing associations, water companies, etc.
  • Would you like to see elected Parish Councillors so that disadvantaged and vulnerable residents in our area can continue to call on a similar level of support?
• Assets in the community
  • Local community assets include playgrounds, playing fields, war memorials, allotments and parks. In Bookham these include the Little Bookham & Eastwick Road allotments; the Chrystie, Lower Road and Old Barn recreation grounds; the Village Green; and the Chrystie Rec Tennis Club, South Bookham Space, Bookham Library, Keswick Rd Guides HQ.
  • A Parish Council would be able to consider whether it could manage some of these more effectively to meet local needs, rather than by a remote Unitary Council covering half a million people.
• Discretionary Services
  • These include the Fairfield Day Centre, the employment hub in the Swan Centre (both nearby in Leatherhead) and support for local charities, such as the Community Hub and Citizens Advice.
  • A Parish Council would be able to reflect any demand by local residents to support additional community activities and prioritise delivery by local suppliers who know the area. 
  • A Parish Council would also control the Neighbourhood element of any Community Infrastructure Levy raised on new developments, ensuring that these funds are spent on local priorities.
• Cost
  • The Parish Council would be funded by a charge raised as part of the Council Tax and initial estimates are that this is likely to start at between £20 and £80 per year

Local Liberal Democrats believe that, especially under a more remote Unitary Council, communities would generally benefit from having elected, accountable Parish Councils. 

We also note that all other English Unitary Councils outside major urban areas have ensured they have Civil Parishes across their entire area.  

There is a risk that Bookham may become the only area in Mole Valley not to have a Parish Council. If this happens it (and some other communities in Surrey) would become the only areas in England outside the major cities which are part of a large Unitary Council but do not have an elected community council.

Mole Valley decided not to propose a Parish Council for Bookham but if you feel the risks of remaining unparished are too great, you should use the consultation period to express your views by emailing cgr@molevalley.gov.uk.  This would enable the strength of feeling to be assessed for possible consideration in a future Community Governance Review.

Give us your views