The Dulwich Neighbourhood Community Meeting was scheduled to discuss the allocation of funds for local improvement projects. Key items on the agenda included the distribution of capital funding for the Cleaner Greener Safer programme and the Devolved Highways Budget, as well as the allocation of revenue grants through the Neighbourhoods Fund.

Cleaner Greener Safer (CGS) 2026-27: Capital Funding Allocation

The meeting was scheduled to consider the allocation of £89,850 for the Cleaner Greener Safer (CGS) capital programme in the Dulwich Neighbourhood area for the 2026-27 financial year. This funding is intended for projects that aim to make local areas cleaner, greener, or safer. The report pack indicated a recommendation to approve the reallocation of £4,650 from previous years' underspends and project cancellations, alongside a new allocation of £85,200. The CGS programme, running since 2003, funds capital improvements such as park enhancements, playground upgrades, street lighting, and tackling grot spots ¹. The report highlighted that this programme aligns with the council's policies on sustainability, regeneration, and community engagement, as detailed in the Fairer Greener Safer – Southwark Council Delivery Plan 2022-2026 and the Streets for People Strategy 2023-2030 ². The report also noted potential health benefits from funded projects, such as improved mental wellbeing through access to nature and increased physical activity. Climate change implications were also considered, with projects expected to support the council's ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030. A list of 23 applications for CGS funding was provided in Appendix 1 of the report pack.

Allocation of Neighbourhood Grants 2026-27 (Neighbourhoods Fund)

The meeting was scheduled to consider the allocation of £40,000 from the Neighbourhoods Fund (NsF) for the 2026-27 period. The NsF is the revenue element of Southwark Council's Neighbourhoods Programme, designed to support small-scale, community-led activities. The fund aims to strengthen neighbourhood identity, encourage participation, and foster cohesion. The report indicated that each ward receives an allocation of £10,000 per Councillor, and any unallocated funds from previous years would be carried forward. The criteria for allocation included fostering community cohesion, encouraging neighbourly respect, promoting resident responsibility for their neighbourhoods, and enhancing the local environment. The report detailed 13 applications for funding from organisations within the Dulwich Village and Dulwich Wood wards, with requested amounts ranging from £1,350 to £10,000. These applications covered a diverse range of activities, including cultural celebrations like Diwali, intergenerational yoga workshops, community safety projects, and support for local festivals.

Devolved Highways Budget 2026-27: Capital Funding Allocation

The meeting was also scheduled to discuss the allocation of £50,792 from the Devolved Highways Budget (DHB) for the Dulwich Neighbourhood for 2026-27. The DHB programme allows for neighbourhood priorities in highway renewal and maintenance to be addressed, beyond the borough-wide programme. The report indicated that this funding could be used for a range of minor traffic and highway capital schemes, including footway and carriageway resurfacing, traffic calming measures, accessibility improvements, and the installation of cycle hangars. The DHB programme is presented as being aligned with the council's Fairer Greener Safer delivery plan and the Streets for People strategy, aiming to promote active travel and improve road safety. The report listed 14 applications for DHB funding, primarily focused on traffic calming, cycle track improvements, and general street enhancements across both Dulwich Village and Dulwich Wood wards.