September has properly settled in now, which means the kitchen table is once again doing double duty as breakfast counter and administrative headquarters. School forms, household bills, council notices and weekend plans all seem to have discovered the same patch of surface. This morning’s job is simply to work out which bits actually need attention, and which can sit beneath the fruit bowl for another day.

If you live around Ash, the Shortlands Farm inquiry is the one to keep an eye on. It opens tomorrow and marks the next formal stage in the appeal over plans for up to 200 homes. If the proposal matters to you, this is a sensible week to check the inquiry arrangements rather than rely on the neighbourhood group chat. Is this one you want us to follow through to the Inspector’s decision?

Elsewhere, autumn continues its traditional hobby of making the calendar look busier than it felt in August.

Let’s take a look.

— Prince Khurram

The public inquiry into the Shortlands Farm appeal begins at 10am on Tuesday 15 September. The appeal concerns plans involving up to 200 homes in Ash and marks a formal new stage for a substantial local development.

What happens next will depend on the evidence considered through the inquiry and, ultimately, the Inspector’s decision.

Click here: To read the inquiry timetable and participation information

Bank Rate currently stands at 3.75%, with the next decision due on Thursday 17 September. For Surrey households, the useful bit is what follows for mortgages, remortgages and savings rates, rather than trying to guess the decision before it arrives.

Click here: To check the September Bank Rate decision and current rate

The typical dual-fuel direct-debit figure rises from £1,663 to £1,723 from 1 October, an annualised increase of about £60 or 4%. The cap limits unit rates and standing charges rather than a household’s total bill, and fixed-rate customers are affected differently.

Click here: To check the new cap and regional unit rates

More than three million children from families receiving Universal Credit now benefit from free school meals following the September expansion, with around 500,000 children added. For eligible Surrey families, it is a practical change to the school-week budget rather than another policy announcement waiting in the wings.

Click here: To read the eligibility and back-to-school support details

Price: £325,000 guide price
Address: Stonecrop Road / Guildford / GU4
Details: Terraced house / 614 sq ft / 2 beds / 1 bath
Parking Type: Allocated

Click here: To view the full house and plan your showing

Price: £550,000 guide price
Address: Bryanstone Close / Guildford / GU2
Details: Semi-detached house / 1,045 sq ft / 3 beds / 1 bath
Click here: To view the full house and plan your showingType: Driveway, off-street parking and detached garage

Click here: To view the full house and plan your showing

Price: £725,000 guide price
Address: Clover Lea, Binscombe / Godalming / GU7
Details: Semi-detached house / 1,245 sq ft / 3 beds / 1 bath
Parking Type: Not stated

Click here: To view the full house and plan your showing

Guildford Library’s refurbishment moves into another temporary-service phase from today. Ready Reads becomes available from 14 September, followed by click-and-collect from 21 September, with a fuller reopening expected later in the autumn.

Click here: To check current Guildford Library services during the refurbishment

Waverley has launched airTEXT, a free alert service for local residents. It provides warnings when moderate or high pollution is forecast, alongside three-day information covering pollution, pollen, UV and temperature.

Click here: To read about the service and sign up for alerts

The next Woking choice-based lettings window opens at 9am on Tuesday 15 September and closes at 9am on Friday 18 September. It is a short window, so this is one for the diary rather than the pile marked “later”.

Here’s how it works:

Click here: To check the current property list and bidding window

Surrey County Council has decided not to proceed with the proposed amalgamation of the Merrow infant and junior schools at this stage. Officers will instead investigate moving the infant school onto the junior-school site while retaining two separate schools.

Click here: To read the Surrey County Council decision papers

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Dorking Walking Week | From 19 September (Info)
Location: Dorking and surrounding area
Description: The programme begins on Saturday 19 September with a mixture of book-ahead, preferred-prebooking and turn-up activities. Many are free, so check the individual walk rather than assuming every pair of boots needs a ticket.

The Other Side of Murder | This week (Info/Tickets)
Location: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Description: The production is on in Guildford this week. If Rufus Hound is part of the reason you are booking, note that he will not perform on Friday 18 or Saturday 19 September

Space Safari Drone Light Show | 19 September (Info/Tickets)
Location: Loseley Park, Guildford
Description: Gates run from 5pm to 10pm, with the drone show expected at around 8pm-8.15pm. Pre-booking parking is described as essential to guarantee a space on site. Poor flying conditions may lead to rescheduling, and weather rescheduling alone does not qualify for a refund.

Vineyard at Harvest | 19 September (Info/Tickets)
Location: High Clandon Estate Vineyard, High Clandon
Description: Saturday’s harvest open day has free general drop-in entry. Tour, Talk and Tasting sessions run at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Price: £30 for the advertised tasting sessions.

FARMM (Info)
Location: Pew Corner, Manor Farm, Old Portsmouth Rd, Guildford GU3 1LP
Description: FARMM’s new Pew Corner location is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Useful if the words “farm shop and café” sound rather more appealing than another sandwich eaten over the keyboard.

Popeyes Guildford (Info/Menu)
Location: Guildford
Description: Popeyes is now open in Guildford following its late-August arrival. There was a small discrepancy around the precise opening date, so we will leave August’s diary arguments in August and stick with the useful bit, it is open now.

The Pilates Movement (Info/Booking)
Location: 14 St Johns Road, Woking GU21 7SE
Description: The new Woking studio opens on Saturday 19 September, offering bookable Pilates classes and one-to-one training. Its Woking introductory offer is five classes for £60.

Carpets and Floorings (Info/Quote)
Location: Camberley
Description: Carpet and flooring services based in Camberley. Review the available options and obtain a written quotation before ordering.

Epsom Locks (Info/Assistance)
Location: Epsom
Description: Locksmith services advertising 24-hour emergency availability. Confirm response times and charges when calling, preferably before the keys establish a private residence on the other side of the door.

Farnham Dry Cleaners (Info/Contact)
Location: Farnham
Description: Dry-cleaning services for Farnham customers. Check current turnaround times, garment terms and prices before leaving items.

Guildford Plumbing and Heating Ltd (Info/Quote)
Location: Guildford
Description: Plumbing and heating services, with appointment and emergency availability varying by day. Confirm call-out charges and timing before booking.

Levesons (Info/Contact)
Location: Weybridge
Description: A dry-cleaning and laundry service rather than a general domestic-cleaning contractor. Check current services, prices and turnaround times directly.

Remoove Removals Leatherhead (Info/Quote)
Location: Leatherhead
Description: Removal and house-clearance services requiring advance booking. Confirm availability, scope and written pricing before the collection date.

Farncombe Station Market | 19 September (Info)
Location: Farncombe Station, Godalming
Description: The September market runs from 10am to 2pm. The council page contains an older heading elsewhere on the page, so use the detailed September listing rather than the stale banner.And Finally,

Vintage Fashion Fair | 19 September (Info)
Location: Farnham Maltings, Farnham
Description: Vintage clothing and accessories take over the Maltings from 10am to 4pm. Price: £4, with under-16s free, and payment is on the door.

And Finally,

September Mondays have a particular Surrey talent for making one ordinary week resemble a small logistics exercise. If you have dealt with the forms, checked the calendar and remembered where you parked, that feels sufficient progress for one morning.

The rest can wait until after the first cup of tea.

Let's catchup on Wednesday.