Elmbridge as an Area to Live and Work in

We are one of the largest Boroughs in Surrey and are located to its north, some 17 miles South West of Central London. We are bordered by the River Thames to the North, the M25 to the South, the River Wey to the West and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to the East. We enjoy good links to London, the South, the West and the South East via the M25 and A3, London Waterloo is only half an hour away, Heathrow and Gatwick airports are also close by.

|We are made up of a number of distinctive communities that share the following characteristics:

• We have a population of approximately 130,000 - one of the fastest growing in Surrey.
• A prosperous area. Although property prices are high in the immediate vicinity affordable homes are available within easy commuting distance.
• A thriving local economy with unemployment at around 1%, with several major companies headquartered at the Regional Business Park at Brooklands including Proctor & Gamble, Sony and Gallahers.
• Beautiful countryside, with 57% of the Borough Green Belt and nearly 10% public open space.
• One of the lowest crime rates in England, although residents fear of crime is a going concern.
• Good schools and educational attainment with achievement above national average in all subjects at all Key Stages.
• We have no single dominant centre but the Borough includes the communities of Weybridge, Walton-on-Thames, Hersham, Hinchley Wood, Oatlands, Esher, Molesey, Cobham, Claygate, Thames Ditton, Long Ditton, Oxshott and Stoke D'Abernon which are all distinctive in character.

Much of the Borough's open countryside is a rare combination of heath and woodland. Our plant and animal life is such that these 'commons' have been designated Areas of Special Scientific Interest. Water is a predominant theme with the Rivers Thames, Mole and Wey offering towpath walks, boating and water sports, riverside pubs and fishing.

We offer a huge range of sporting facilities including leisure centres, indoor pools, go-karting, rowing, horse riding and dry slope skiing. Almost every palate is catered for across the Borough's restaurants and there are many local spots worth a day out for families young and old alike, from Chessington World of Adventures to the Brooklands Museum, and from Hampton Court to Painshill Park.

All of this contributes to a quality of life that attracts many people to live, work in and visit Elmbridge.

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|Elmbridge...what are the issues?

While we have social, environmental and economic characteristics that result in a high quality of life and opportunities for many of our residents, there are still many challenges to be addressed. Our consultation and research suggests that the main issues are:

• The potential conflict between the demand for housing and associated amenities and the pressure this places on our Borough's distinctive and attractive character;
• Good life expectancy resulting in an ageing population;
• High property prices and a shortage of building land which means that many people cannot afford to live in the Borough;
• Difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff in key disciplines due to the high cost of living in the Borough;
• A need for additional attractive and relevant services for young people (who account for one in four of residents);
• Fear of crime is disproportionate to actual levels of crime, which are low;
• Despite the general wealth of the Borough, there are pockets where people feel isolated and excluded from services; and
• Traffic congestion means people find it difficult to get to work, there are increased risks of injuries, higher pollution and costs to businesses.

We are a diverse Borough and our small towns and communities are varied. The challenge for us is to provide quality services tailored to meet these wide ranging needs.

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|Elmbridge Borough Council...what are our political arrangements?

We have 60 Members of the Council representing 22 electoral wards. Following the elections in May 2008 the Council comprises: Conservative (32), Residents' Association (19) [comprising Members from separate Residents Associations], Hinchley Wood Residents Association (2), and Liberal Democrat (7). Since May 2008, there has been a Conservative Administration.

We piloted the Cabinet and Leader model of political management in May 2001 and, following consultation, formally adopted the system in May 2002. We have a Cabinet of ten Councillors with a mixture of service orientated and cross cutting portfolios:
- Leader of the Council - Regulatory Affairs
- Environment and Economy - Community Development
- Highways and Transport - Corporate Development
- Social Affairs - Housing
- Resources - Leisure and Culture

We also have three Overview and Scrutiny Committees: Corporate Affairs, Community Affairs and Environmental Affairs.

We operate in a two-tier structure with the exception of the Claygate area, which has a Parish Council. We have positive and constructive relationships with both the County Council and other District Councils, and have recently signed a Charter with the Claygate Parish Council as a framework for ensuring efficient joint working.

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|Elmbridge Borough Council...what are our management arrangements?

Our main organisational characteristics are:

• We employ in the region of 420 permanent staff (360 full time equivalent), the majority of which are based in modern offices at the Civic Centre in Esher, opposite Sandown Race Course.
• We are divided into three Directorates - Chief Executive's Directorate, Services Directorate and Resources Directorate;
• Leadership is achieved through the Corporate Management Board (CMB) led by the Chief Executive and comprising the Strategic Director - Services, the Strategic Director - Resources and the Assistant Chief Executive, which meets weekly; and
• Policy making and communication is assisted by the Management Forum (comprising CMB and all Heads of Service), which meets monthly.

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|Elmbridge Borough Council...what do we see as our strengths?

We recognise the complex and challenging environment in which we operate. In the last three years, we have made significant strides forward. These will enable us to achieve our goal to be one of the best Borough Councils in the country by 2008. Our Peer Review team said:

"You aim to be one of the best borough councils by 2008 and the external recognition you are receiving suggests you are on the right track" (I&DeA)

This work continues but as a snapshot we believe that overall our current strengths are:

• Good working relationships between Members and Officers;
• High calibre and committed members of staff;
• A developing culture of improvement and high expectations;
• Sound and well managed finances;
• Effective relationships with our key partners:

"It's good to work with Elmbridge because they are positive about new ideas and see beyond demarcation lines" (I&DeA)

• Strong performance in many of our services; and
• A willingness to innovate including alternative service delivery mechanisms.

However, we continue to grapple with a number of organisational challenges, such as:

• We will receive the minimum of Government funding for the foreseeable future;
• The increasingly high expectations of our residents and partners;
• Staff recruitment and retention difficulties;
• A residual "silo effect" between our Directorates;
• An increasing need for Members and employees alike to look beyond Elmbridge to Surrey and the national scene; and
• A need to further improve our ability to focus and prioritise and make associated tough decisions.

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