Elmbridge Borough Council published operational materials for new Walton-on-Thames Neighbourhood Area Committees (NACs) on 1 February 2026, as part of planning to keep local voices heard during a wider reorganisation of local government in Surrey. The committees are intended to provide a forum where residents can raise local concerns and make recommendations to officials as the council prepares for change.
The council is setting up the Walton-on-Thames NAC because Elmbridge Borough Council will be abolished on 1 April 2027 and its area will become part of the new East Surrey Council under the county-wide reorganisation. The Walton NAC will focus on the three Walton wards: Walton North, Walton Central and Walton South.
The council says meetings are planned to rotate between the Walton Centre for the Community (Manor Road) and the Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub, and that public sessions are intended as part of the engagement cycle — although the pilot working-group meetings were being held privately until the end of March 2026 to allow members time to shape how the committees will operate. Topics expected to be raised include community safety, environmental standards, and recommendations on how the local portion of developer contributions (for example CIL) should be spent on improvements such as parks and roads.
The NAC roll-out follows the government’s October 2025 decision to reorganise Surrey into two new unitary councils. For more information on the Neighbourhood Area Committees and how to take part, see Surrey County Council’s Neighbourhood Area Committees engagement hub.
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