There’s a new grant funding pool from (Department for Communities and Local Government) DCLG now available to encourage communities to take up neighbourhood planning.
Local groups can apply for grants of up to £2,000 to run a neighbourhood planning workshop in their community. The workshop must be run by knowledgeable and enthusiastic advocate of neighbourhood planning, with the aim of giving a community the information they need to begin the neighbourhood planning process.
Areas that have a low take up of neighbourhood planning are the focus for these grants, and it is expected that you will be able to attract at least 10 communities to attend.
The applicant and workshop organiser must be a constituted body with experience of or a strong interest in neighbourhood planning. This could include local planning authorities, town and parish councils, county association of local councils, and university planning schools. Groups already undertaking a neighbourhood plan, local community organisations and charities can also apply.
The workshop should be hosted by an organisation with staff or members who have existing knowledge and / or experience of neighbourhood planning.
Eligible meetings should be held in an area in which take up of neighbourhood planning has been low (or at a location accessible to communities in such areas).
These will be in a local planning authority area where the number of designated neighbourhood areas is five or less and / or in parished areas where the number of parish or town councils that have been designated in whole or in part as neighbourhood areas represents 15% or less of all the parish and town councils in the area.
What can the grant money be spent on?
Items that would constitute valid expenditure include:
• Venue and equipment hire
• Expenses for external contributors where needed
• Light Refreshments (for example a hot drink and biscuits)
• Event materials such as hand outs.
For further information and to apply, visit: http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/NP-Workshop-Grants_Guidance-for-applicants.pdf, or email: [email protected].