The South of the Borough Neighbourhood Committee met on Wednesday 7 February 2024, approving grants for local organisations and allocating funds for community infrastructure projects. The committee also discussed planned highway maintenance and decided against appointing standing advisory members.

Community Grants Programme

The committee approved two applications for Neighbourhood Community Grants. The first, for £3,000, was awarded to the Kingston Charitable Foundation to support their South of the Borough Neighbourhood Grants Programme, which provides hardship grants of up to £200 in supermarket vouchers to residents facing financial difficulties. The second grant, for £1,870, was awarded to the Kingston Carers' Network to help fund their Young Carers' Conference 2024. This conference aims to support young carers, who provide care for family members with illness, disability, or mental health issues, by offering a day of activities, entertainment, and opportunities to share their experiences.

Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) Allocation

The committee allocated £65,000 from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) to three projects. The largest allocation, £30,000, was approved for the Outdoor Tennis Court Project at King Edward's Recreation Ground. This funding is conditional on the project being unable to secure alternative finance, and will be used for resurfacing, line marking, and installing a new net. A £15,000 grant was approved for Sharing Lives Charity to support new groundworks for the expansion of their Men's Shed at The King's Centre. This project aims to improve accessibility and increase the capacity of the shed, which provides support for vulnerable and lonely men. The final allocation was £20,000 for the Rewilding at Tolworth Court Farm project. This funding will contribute to restoring wetland habitats, mitigating flood risks, and engaging the local community in conservation efforts.

Advisory Committee Members

The committee resolved not to appoint any standing Advisory Committee Members for the remainder of the 2022-2026 term. Instead, they agreed to invite relevant stakeholders to attend and address the committee on specific issues as and when appropriate. This approach aligns with the general preference of Neighbourhood Committees to engage with local stakeholders on an ad-hoc basis rather than appointing permanent advisory members.

Planned Highway Maintenance and Street Lighting Capital Programme 2024/25

The committee received an update on the 2023/24 highway maintenance programme and considered the proposed programme for 2024/25. Members raised questions about contributions from Transport for London (TfL) towards repairs at Guilders Roundabout and the impact of electric buses on road surfaces. Concerns were also raised about the effectiveness of road patching and the need for gully unblocking. A member of the public inquired about the weight of electric vehicles and their impact on road calming measures. Officers undertook to investigate these matters and also to ensure parking spaces in North Parade are marked. The proposed programme will be presented to the Place Committee for approval on 14 March 2024.

Community Police Update

A representative from the police provided an update on crime within the neighbourhood. The Chair thanked the police for their work.

Community Manager's Report

The Community Manager presented a report on various local issues, including the work of the Neighbourhood Rangers team, Councillor Ward Funding, and the use of Community Notice Boards. The committee noted the updates provided.

Public Questions and Petitions

There were no public questions or petitions submitted to the committee.

Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Afy Afilaka.

Declarations of Interest

No declarations of interest were made by the committee members.

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 December 2023 were confirmed as a correct record.