Climate and environment
We protect and improve Elmbridge’s environment so everyone can enjoy cleaner air, greener places and more sustainable ways of living.
Waste and recycling – making almost 180,000 bin collections per week, keeping neighbourhoods tidy and providing practical advice on reducing waste and recycling.
Parks, open spaces and biodiversity – maintaining and caring for our 86 green spaces, 36 fixed play areas and 625 hectares of countryside, improving habitats and encouraging nature to thrive across the borough.
Responsible planning – guiding development to respect local character, including our trees, conservation areas and listed buildings, while ensuring new homes are supported by good design and infrastructure.
Environmental health and protection – tackling noise, littering and anti social environmental issues, inspecting food businesses to protect public health, and taking action where needed.
Climate action and sustainable living – promoting active and sustainable travel, supporting residents and businesses to reduce their environmental impact, and funding 49 energy efficiency and sustainability projects in recent years.
Vibrant towns and villages
We help our high streets, neighbourhoods and local economy to flourish so Elmbridge remains a great place to live, work and visit.
Place shaping and growth – planning for the homes our communities need, with design that enhances our towns and villages.
Arts, culture and leisure – managing our leisure centres and sports facilities which receive over one million visits per year, providing opportunities to be active by leading over 500 wellbeing walks and cycle rides, and showcasing the borough’s culture and history, including the approximately 50,000 artefacts held in the Elmbridge Museum collection.
Business and town centre support – working with local partners to encourage investment, events and initiatives that increase footfall and reduce vacancy rates keeping our towns and villages popular and thriving, and managing our town and village car parks, including free parking initiatives, so it’s easy to shop locally.
Community and partnerships
We put residents at the heart of our services, making it easy for them to get support, helping people stay independent, and enabling everyone to be part of the community.
Support for wellbeing and volunteering – running sessions for up to 120 people living with dementia and their carers each week, providing community transport to help residents stay connected with over 6,500 trips a year, and linking volunteers with the voluntary and community organisations that need them.
Housing and homelessness prevention – offering practical advice to prevent homelessness, providing emergency accommodation when needed, advising on standards for private rented homes, and making adaptations so that people can live independently for longer.
Elections and democracy – running open, fair and efficient elections for around 100,000 electors, maintaining the Register of Electors, and supporting our 48 councillors including the Mayor, who undertakes over 250 community engagements each year.
Listening and partnership working – creating opportunities for meaningful consultation and collaboration with residents, businesses and the voluntary and community sector to shape services and achieve more together.
