Farnham becomes fourth pilot Neighbourhood Area Committee

Community engagement in Surrey is evolving with the announcement of Farnham as the fourth pilot Neighbourhood Area Committee, joining the ranks of the three existing pilot areas across the county in East Elmbridge, Dorking and Villages and North Tandridge.

This marks another step in commitments to empower local communities working together with key partners from local government, town and parish councils, health, police, business, education and the voluntary, community and faith sectors within Surrey bringing collaborative planning and decision-making closer to residents.

The Neighbourhood Area Committees are part of a “test, learn and grow” approach to listening to local concerns designed to explore new ways of engaging communities and delivering services that reflect local priorities to help in informing the new unitary councils that may be created. With Farnham now on board, the initiative expands its reach and impact, offering even more residents the opportunity to shape the future of their neighbourhoods.

An evaluation of the pilot programme will take place at the end of December 2025, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of the model and informing future developments and options for new councils that are expected to be created alongside a new Mayoral authority in Surrey. The first committee meetings in the first three pilot areas will take place in September.

Over the Autumn residents will be encouraged to have their say in shaping their local area priorities with some face to face community events and a range of engagement tools made available.

Surrey County Council Leader Tim Oliver said: “This is about putting communities at the heart of everything we do. By expanding the Neighbourhood Area Committees pilots, we are looking to test different ways of giving residents a stronger voice and more opportunities to influence decisions that matter to them. Farnham’s inclusion is a very welcome addition to the existing other pilot areas and I am grateful to the work of the teams from all sectors that have worked together to embrace the challenge of setting up these Neighbourhood Area Committees at pace that will inform a successful operational model for the local area committees in the future.” 

Councillor Graham White, Leader of Farnham Town Council, said: “We are pleased to be part of Surrey’s Neighbourhood Area Committee pilot scheme. Farnham has long championed the importance of a strong local voice in shaping our community, and this initiative strengthens our ability to collaborate with wider partners across the county. It’s a valuable opportunity to build on our existing engagement work and ensure that decisions reflect the needs and aspirations of our residents. This is essential in underpinning the new unitary councils that the government is expected to create. There must be an effective voice for local communities and a commitment for the new unitary councils to engage effectively following the abolition of the county council and district councils.”

For more information on how to participate in your local Neighbourhood Area Committee, visit Neighbourhood Area Committees – Surrey County Council