Bagshot Rural District formed the largest part of Surrey Heath. The villages and hamlets in Bagshot rural district comprised Lightwater, Bagshot, Windlesham, Chobham including West End and Bisley. The motto for the district was Festina Prudenter granted on 20 July 1960. On the crest, the gold and white background was from the arms of Chertsey Abbey, which owned and is connected with the history of much of the district - Bagshot was included in a grant to the Abbey as early as 933. The stag's head on the crest refers to Bagshot Park, a royal demesne since Norman times and hunting ground of the Stuart kings, and also to the fact that much of the area was formerly part of Windsor Forest. The grenade on the crest refers to the area's military associations, in particular the former military camp at Chobham and the lion recalls the area's royal links. The fir cones and mound of heathland refers to Bagshot Heath, and the falcon is derived from the supporters of the Earls of Onslow. The Surrey Heath community have been recognised for one of the most organised volunteer initiatives to the COVID-19 outbreak through their Surrey Heath Prepared organisation.
Governance
The Borough is governed by Surrey Heath Borough Council, where the current breakdown of seat alloactions is:
Conservatives 16
Liberal Democrats 9
Independent 6
Green Party 2
Labour Party 1
Parish councils in Surrey Heath are in Bisley with the chairman being Cllr Barry Woodhead; Chobham with the chairman being Cllr Les Coombs; West End with the chairman being Cllr David Elliott and Windlesham where the chairman is Cllr Keith Hand.
Politics
For detailed election results see Surrey Heath Borough Council elections. In 2014, the British Election Study named Surrey Heath as the most right-wing constituency in the country. In 2016 the Conservative council approved the £110 million purchase of the Square Shopping centre in Camberley, through the purchase of an offshore trust based in Jersey, whilst Surrey Heath Borough Council owns the trust, it has no direct control over the asset and depends on unknown trustees to manage the assets of the trust. In June 2016 Conservative Councillor Daniel Robert Adams attended court for non-payment of council tax, in the same financial year he received two allowances totalling £6400.40 from Surrey Heath Council. In 2019, the council's accounts report property investment assets valued at £83 million, a reported loss of £27 million. In 2019 it was revealed the Chief Executive, Karen Whelan had her pay increased by over 30% to £158,000 making it higher than the then PM Theresa May, the increase was authorised by the Conservative Council leader Moira Gibson. The 2 May 2019 borough elections produced 18 Conservative, 10 Liberal Democrat, 4 Independent councillors, 2 Green and 1 Labour, leaving the Conservatives with a majority of one, their smallest ever. The parish elections also 7 Independent councillors for Bisley Parish council and 13 Conservative, 3 Green, 2 Independent and 1 Liberal Democrat for Windlesham Parish Council. In October 2019 it was reported that the Chief Executive had been placed on special leave despite speculation she had been suspended. In January 2020, the council received an independent report from law firm Browne Jacobson, for undisclosed ongoing matters the council has been advised not to release the report, at this time there is no report of Karen Whelan having left the pay of the council. In January 2020 the Conservative leader and council leader, Richard Brooks resigned along with the deputy leader Charlotte Morley, following a unanimous vote of no confidence in the leader from the Conservative council group. In January Alan McClafferty was elected as the new Conservative leader and council leader, sacking a number of Conservative front benchers including gaff prone Paul Deach, whose campaign was blamed for the LibDems successes. On the 3rd February 2020 an individual from a Surrey Heath Borough Council Internet connection edited the Surrey Heath Wikipedia page by remove substantial amounts of independently cited facts about the council.
Geography
The area forms the heart of the heath that spans Esher, Oxshott, Weybridge, Wisley, all around Woking, Brookwood, Deepcut, Pirbright, Frimley, Lightwater, Camberley, Chobham Common, Virginia Water and Ottershaw. It is made up of naturally wet, very acid sandy and loamy soil, which is just 1.9% of English soil and 0.2% of Welsh soil, which gives rise to pines and coniferous landscapes, such as pioneered at Wentworth and Foxhills estate by pro-American independence statesman Charles James Fox. In geology it gives rise to the name, Bagshot Formation. The western section of the district is largely urbanised, with heaths nonetheless providing substantial green buffer around Camberley, Lightwater, Deepcut, Frimley, Frimley Green and Mytchett. The east of the district is less urbanised, and contains Surrey Heath's four civil parishes:
In May 2006, a report commissioned by British Gas showed that housing in Surrey Heath produced the 3rd highest average carbon emissions in the country at an average of 7,477 kg of carbon dioxide per dwelling.
Opinion poll
Surrey Heath was voted the 6th best place to live in Channel 4's 2007 Location, Location, Location 'best and worst' survey.
