A motion to remove Cllr Richard Biggs as leader of Reigate and Banstead council goes to full council on 1 October. No group has a majority.

Councillors will vote next Thursday on whether to remove Cllr Richard Biggs as Leader of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. The motion of no confidence is item 12 on the agenda for full council on 1 October, published on the council’s committee site.

Cllr Mark Smith proposed it and Cllr Rod Ashford seconded it. Cllr Smith sits in the Green and Redhill Independent Group and represents Redhill West and Wray Common. Cllr Ashford is an independent member for Lower Kingswood, Tadworth and Walton, according to the council’s register of councillors.

What the motion says

The full text of the motion makes three points:

  • it notes “growing public concern regarding the Administration’s record on governance, major projects, housing delivery and transparency”
  • it says “recent electoral results across the Borough” show “a significant decline in support for the Conservative Party”
  • it resolves to remove Cllr Biggs as Leader and “appoint a new Leader at this full council meeting”

The motion does not say which election results it means, and it does not name a replacement.

The numbers in the chamber

No group has a majority on the 45-seat council. The council’s own review of political proportionality, which goes to the same meeting, sets out the group sizes:

Group Councillors
Conservative 16
Green and Redhill Independent 16
Residents’ Association 7
Liberal Democrat 4
Ungrouped 2

The Conservatives run the council’s Executive. All eight Executive members, led by Cllr Biggs, are Conservative councillors, according to the Executive’s membership page and the councillor register.

The Green and Redhill Independent Group drew level at 16 in August. Cllr Nick Abear of the Green Party won the Hooley, Merstham and Netherne by-election on 6 August and joined the group. The result:

  • Nick Abear, Green Party: 934 votes (42%)
  • Johnny Wolf, Reform UK: 545 (24%)
  • Jon Mears, Conservative: 454 (20%)
  • Tina Siobhan Cohen, Liberal Democrat: 166 (7%)
  • Catherine Mary Drapans, Labour: 138 (6%)

Turnout was 27%.

A council in its last six months

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is abolished on 1 April 2027, when the new East Surrey Council takes over. We covered how services will be split and the three new town councils planned for Reigate, Redhill and Banstead. Whoever leads the borough council after 1 October will do so for about six months.

The same meeting also has two public questions to Cllr Biggs about the Harlequin Theatre. Both ask about access for amateur groups once it reopens, and one asks whether a local company can book three full weeks in 2028, according to the published questions.

What it means for you

  • When: Thursday 1 October, 7.30pm
  • Where: New Council Chamber, Town Hall, Castlefield Road, Reigate
  • Watch: the council webcasts full council meetings; the link is on the meeting page

The day-to-day services you use, from bins to planning, do not stop whatever the result. A change of leader would change who chooses the Executive and sets its priorities until April. We will report the outcome.