The Council

Lingfield Parish Council is a small local authority with seven councillors elected for four years. The next elections will be held in 2027 but by-elections may be held to fill vacancies occuring between elections. Each year the Council raises a 'precept' on council tax payers to cover the cost of running expenses which in 2023 amounts to £62,400. We also receive a small income from allotment rent but most of this is reinvested into the sites. The Clerk (and Responsible Finance Officer) is employed by the Parish Council to attend meetings and implement decisions taken by the Council. The Parish Office is open to the public four mornings a week. Parish Council members are volunteers but we have adopted a system of members’ allowances to enable us to compensate councillors for their expenditure on telephone calls and computer consumables. The level of allowance at the moment is £25 per member for telephone calls and £25 per member for computer consumables. There is a higher allowance for the Chairman and Chairman of the Planning Committee, up to a maximum of £150 per year.

The Parish Council usually meets on the last Wednesday of the month (excluding August and December). The Planning Committee has delegated powers and meets roughly every two weeks. This is necessary because of the 21 day consultation period on planning applications. All members of the parish council are also on the planning committee.

Some members have extra responsibilities or serve on outside bodies. These are listed below:-

Planning Committee - all members

Surrey and Sussex Association of Local Councils Cllrs Duggan and Downing

Lingfield Wildlife Area Cllrs Marks and Lockwood

Gatwick Airport Cllr Lockwood

Neighbourhood Plan Cllrs Hearnden, Lockwood and Marks

Allotments Cllr Downing

Finance Cllr Hearnden

Pond Working Group Cllr Fudge

Lingfield Library Cllr Duggan

What We Do

Lingfield Parish Council:

Owns Lingfield and Dormansland Community Centre and the Jennings Hall, leasing them to a management committee

Owns part of the Nature Reserves, leasing it to a management committee

Manages the allotment gardens at Centenary Fields and The Pollards

Looks after the village pond

Provides extra maintenance around the village including the planters, grass cutting and some graffiti removal

Liaises with Surrey County Council regarding traffic problems

Takes responsibility for the war memorial and village cage

Provides benches, flag pole, history board and notice boards around the village

Gives regular financial help to:- the Church to provide churchyard maintenance; Lingfield Wildlife Area for maintenance of Nature Reserves; Chamber of Commerce to provide Christmas lights in the village; Meals on Wheels and Community News

Provides small grants to local organisations such as Scouts, Guides, Youth Football Team, Youth Cricket Team

Co-ordinates volunteers who carry out Speedwatch duties

Comments on all planning applications in the parish – Tandridge District Council then makes the final decision, taking into account our views

Supports the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

Supports the Lingfest Organising Committee

Lingfield residents are served by Surrey County Council, Tandridge District Council and Lingfield Parish Council and the Parish Office provides an information point for residents who may be unsure which organisation they need to contact.