The New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee met on Wednesday 13 March 2024, where they resolved to refuse an application for £23,000 of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding for the Jubilee Square Pavilion Project. The committee also discussed and noted updates on the Neighbourhood Ranger's work and considered arrangements for Councillor Ward Funding for the upcoming municipal year.

Jubilee Square Pavilion Project Refused

The committee resolved to refuse an application for £23,000 of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding for the Jubilee Square Pavilion Project. The application, submitted by the New Malden Town Centre Partnership, sought funding for a pavilion to be used for entertainment, education, arts, and shelter in Jubilee Square.

The decision to refuse the application was made due to concerns raised by officers and a majority of committee members regarding the lack of clarity on the maintenance responsibilities for the proposed pavilion. Concerns were also voiced about the potential for anti-social behaviour and vandalism, as well as the associated unbudgeted costs for maintenance. Councillor Robert Dongsung Kim declared an Other Registrable Interest in this item due to his co-directorship of the Korea Town Foundation with Simon Edwards, the applicant's project manager, and therefore withdrew from the debate and voting.

The application had been deferred from the previous meeting on 1 February 2024 to allow for further information to be gathered, particularly concerning maintenance. Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge applied to new developments to support infrastructure needs, with 15% of CIL collected within a neighbourhood allocated back to that area for smaller infrastructure projects. The New and Old Malden Neighbourhood had £171,194.69 of NCIL available for allocation.

The refusal was supported by Councillors Bolton, Heap, Henderson, Massimi, Park, Thorpe, and Tracey. Councillor Durrant voted against the refusal, while Councillors Sillett and Kugan abstained.

Kingston to New Malden Cycle Route Development

The committee received a report on the proposed design for the un-built section of the Kingston Road/Cambridge Road cycle route, specifically the segment between California Road and Georgia Road within New and Old Malden. Any comments from the committee would be forwarded to the Place Committee for a decision on proceeding to the detailed design and implementation stage.

A representative from the Kingston Cycling Campaign spoke in favour of the project, advocating for cycle segregation. Officers indicated that a compromise with Transport for London (TfL) would be necessary to achieve a design that satisfied all parties.

Members raised points regarding engagement with groups such as the 'Kingston Association for the Blind' and elderly residents to ensure their views were considered in the design process. Officers confirmed that engagement had taken place and would continue, with designs incorporating tactile surfacing where possible. Concerns were also raised about cyclist speed and red light jumping, with officers noting that enforcement falls under the remit of the police. The proposed designs aim to create safer and more desirable links for cyclists and pedestrians, encouraging a shift away from private car use. The estimated cost for the entire route, including sections in Kingston and North Kingston, is £2.3 million, with TfL contributing funding.

Neighbourhood Ranger's Work Profile

The committee received an update on the work undertaken by the New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Ranger. Between 2 January and 23 February 2024, the ranger completed 205 tasks. The most frequent activities included attending to notice boards (18.81%), tasks requiring a ranger van such as transporting equipment (14.85%), and litter picking (10.89%).

Councillor Ward Funding Arrangements 2024/25

Members considered the arrangements for Councillor Ward Funding (CWF) for the 2024/25 municipal year. CWF, introduced in 2016/17, allows local councillors to allocate small amounts of funding for local initiatives. The budget for 2024/25 remains at £2,000 per councillor per year. Following discussion, the committee resolved to continue with the existing funding allocation arrangements, permitting each councillor to allocate up to £2,000 individually. This decision was unanimous.

Public Question Time

A resident raised a question regarding the removal of decking and structures from the public highway at the front of properties on Burlington Road. Officers explained that they were in the process of confirming land ownership and adopted highway status. They apologised for the delay due to resource constraints but confirmed that work would be undertaken. Once legal matters were resolved, businesses would be informed of the process and criteria for obtaining a licence to display structures on the public highway, with enforcement to follow if no action was taken.