Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2015 as a correct record.

The Leader signed, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2015.

Malcolm Ralph presented a summary of the work to date on the Croydon Community Led Plan to the Leader and others present.

The Plan covered the following substantive aspects:

·         A “desire for things to happen”

·         Design Guide

·         Housing, especially affordable

·         A community building

·         Recreation

·         Community safety

·         Sustainability

·         Democracy and communication

·         Action Plan

·         Results Appendix

There was significant support from Croydon residents for housing development, in general, and affordable housing, in particular, within the village. District Councillors made a number of suggestions for proceeding while South Cambridgeshire District Council was unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply. These included:

·         Establishing a Community Land Trust

·         negotiating with Registered Providers, who were now building market housing as well to help finance affordable housing schemes

·         starting work on a Neighbourhood Plan that would help the Parish Council to manage growth within the village

Councillor Bridget Smith (representing Croydon) expressed enthusiasm for the document, and congratulated its authors. She welcomed the evidence it would provide in planning Croydon’s future. It was a model that could help other small villages in South Cambridgeshire.

Those present discussed the former Queen Adelaide Public House. The very firm view was that it should be re-listed as an asset of community value.

The Leader approved

1.     existing eligibility criteria for the Community Chest 2016-17, subject to:

a.     amending those criteria to state that

(i)     the Community Chest will not fund Community Speedwatch Schemes or ‘other traffic initiatives’;

(ii)   each parish can receive three awards or a maximum of £4,500; and

b.     removing the specification that, in the case of projects involving building works to Community Buildings, Historic Buildings, Monuments or Memorials, the grant would only be paid once the work had been completed; and

2.     carry forward of the balance remaining in the Community Chest 2015-16.

The Leader considered a report seeking his endorsement of the eligibility criteria for the Community Chest 2016-17 grant funding scheme, and approve the carry forward of uncommitted balances.

The Leader was keen to widen access to the grants regime by ensuring that it was not excessively generous.

Those present discussed a proposal from Councillor Anna Bradnam that Milton Country Park should be treated in a unique way, given its district-wide significance. However, the Leader felt that such a move could set a precedent, and said that the scheme should remain simple, but flexible.

The Leader approved

1.    existing eligibility criteria for the Community Chest 2016-17, subject to:

a.    amending those criteria to state that

(i)    the Community Chest will not fund Community Speedwatch Schemes or ‘other traffic initiatives’;

(ii)   each parish can receive three awards or a maximum of £4,500; and

b.    removing the specification that, in the case of projects involving building works to Community Buildings, Historic Buildings, Monuments or Memorials, the grant would only be paid once the work had been completed; and

2.    carry forward of the balance remaining in the Community Chest 2015-16.

Attendees are asked to bring their diaries.

The Leader expressed a preference for 10.00am on Wednesday 16 December 2015 as the date for the next meeting, subject to room availability.