The Surrey Heath Borough Council Executive met to discuss several key issues, including the refurbishment of playgrounds, the installation of a Changing Places facility¹ in Camberley Town Centre, and the sale of surplus land. The Executive agreed to allocate funds for playground refurbishments and the Changing Places facility, and authorised the sale of part of Yorktown car park and land at Obelisk Way. They also approved the award of a contract for a Revenues & Benefits system.

Playground Refurbishments

The Executive agreed to allocate £900,000 from the Strategic CIL funds² & Commuted Sums Reserve for the replacement of playgrounds at Heatherside Recreation Ground, Frimley Green Recreation Ground, Camberley Park and Woodend Road. The decision will now be recommended to the Full Council for addition to the capital programme.

The report noted that the existing equipment and surfacing at the four sites had significantly deteriorated and were approaching the point of uneconomical repair. It was also noted that as equipment continues to fail, individual play units are being removed to mitigate health and safety risks, diminishing the overall quality and usability of the facilities.

The proposed investment aims to improve access to safe and stimulating play environments, enhance community health and wellbeing, respond to local demand, and ensure facilities comply with modern health and safety standards. The report stated that the improved facilities will provide enhanced access to quality play for residents across the entire borough, and that the redesigned playgrounds will provide a safe, inclusive and engaging environment for children of all ages and abilities.

The Executive considered the option of not proceeding with the refurbishments, which would involve closing the playgrounds and removing all equipment, but this was rejected due to the permanent loss of valued community assets. They also considered replacing the equipment on a reduced scale, but this was deemed insufficient to meet community expectations or maximise the opportunity for long-term improvement.

The refurbishment project aligns with the council's five-year strategy, which highlights health and quality of life as a priority, and will also work towards the council's new Physical Activity strategy, Surrey's Movement for Change strategy, and Sport England's Uniting the Movement strategy.

The council plans to undertake public consultation to gather views and shape the designs with community input.

Changing Places Facility, Camberley Town Centre

The Executive agreed to allocate £195,000 from the Council's CIL Infrastructure main fund to enable the works to provide and install a Changing Places unit in Camberley Town Centre.

Providing a Changing Places Unit within the Town Centre was identified as one of the Year 3 Project Recommendations to be funded within the UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation.

The report noted that in 2020 a major change to building regulations made it compulsory for the inclusion of Changing Places Toilets (12m2 in size) and well-equipped accessible toilet facilities to be designed and built into new public buildings, from 2021.

The report also noted that data sources from Surrey County Council (2021 census) recorded that of 36,000 households in the county, 13.6% are registered disabled under the Equality Act Plus 7.4% are not registered disabled under the Equality Act but as having long term physical or mental health conditions (2021 Census). 7.7% of residents in Surrey provide unpaid care to dependents.

The proposed location for the Changing Places facility is in the Main Square Car Park, lower deck.

Sale of part of Yorktown car park, Sullivan Road, Camberley

The Executive authorised the Head of Property and Economic Development, in consultation with the s151 Officer³ and the Portfolio Holder for Property and Economic Development, to complete the sale of part of Yorktown car park, outlined in red in Annex 1 of the report, substantially on the terms outlined in bid No 1 as set out in exempt Annex 2 to the agenda report.

Part of the Yorktown car park was identified for potential sale as the full site rarely exceeds half capacity. The site has also been incorporated in the council's emerging local plan as a site allocation to meet the borough's housing need.

The Yorktown car park comprises 137 bays including 6 disabled parking bays. The remaining part which will continue to operate as a car park will have 64 bays including 3 disabled bays. The car park includes 10 electric vehicle charging bays which are all within the remaining part of the site.

The council made a media announcement at the start of the process on 23 May 2025.

The car park produced gross income of £28,400 in the year ending March 2025 and net income of £9,000 after deducting operational expenditure and rates.

The sale will release the site for housing. Approximately 27 apartments are identified for the site allocation in the emerging Local Plan.

Surplus Land Sales – Disposal of 5-13 Obelisk Way, Camberley Town Centre

The Executive delegated authority to the Head of Property and Economic Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic & Income Development and the Head of Finance (s151 Officer) to complete the sale of the building 5-13 Obelisk Way in accordance with the terms outlined in Bid No 1, as set out in exempt Annex 3 to the report.

The asset consists of 15,564 sq ft of space over 2 floors with 8 car parking spaces to the rear. It currently comprises three let retails units and extends to approximately 0.234 acres (0.095 hectares). The building produced gross income of £45,015 in the year ending March 2025. However after landlord costs for service charge, and rates there is a negative net operating income position.

The freehold interest in the site is available with vacant possession or with the 3 existing tenants in situ. Current leases give flexibility to both freeholder and leaseholder with mutual breaks. Relocation to similar premises within the shopping centre could be offered as alternative accommodation

The disposal would reduce the Council's exposure to secondary retail property in the town centre for which there is a generous supply in Camberley.

Award of contract for Revenues & Benefits system

The Executive agreed to award a contract for a council-wide hybrid mail service. Hybrid mail is a system that combines traditional postal services with digital technology to streamline the process of sending and receiving mail, which would allow the Council to send physical mail without the need for in-house printing, enveloping and posting.