Parishes are key focus at Craven Arms and Rural LJC meeting

The Craven Arms and Rural Local Joint Committee (LJC) met on Wednesday 20 July 2011 at Diddlebury Village Hall.  An enthusiastic group of young Craven Arms cricketers delivered a 10-minute presentation illustrating the Gambia cricket project that had received £2,000 funding .  They also explained their plans to promote the work that has been initiated through this project.  

Presentations were also given on the governance review of Craven Arms that began 1 August 2011 and on the role of the Shropshire Council’s area directors, including the localism agenda and the new town and parish charter that is being developed. 

Representatives from town and parish councils within the area of the LJC provided an update on current issues and ongoing projects in their area: the main initiatives discussed were around local parish plans. 

Grants totalling £11,703.80 were awarded to Craven Arms Community Food (£2,530.80) – storage shed for farmers’ market equipment; Onibury Village Hall (£2,500) – replacement kitchen; South Shropshire Youth Forum (£3,453) – cricket project and community green team; South Shropshire Engineering Ambassadors (£450) – materials for out-of-school club; Corvedale Entertainment Society (£770) – training, equipment and marketing to expand and develop arts in the Corvedale area; and Lambeth Friendship Centre (£2,000) – replacement kitchen. 

Chair of the committee Councillor David Evans said:-

“The meeting was a great success; it was refreshing to hear so much about the parishes, and we will look to continue this in the future.   We were delighted to welcome the young people to the meeting; they spoke passionately about their cricket project and were a credit to our community.”  

The committee also decided that, in the light of the reduced budget, the maximum grant awarded would be £2,500, with no more than 60% of total project costs being supported. The closing date for grant applications for the next meeting is Monday 26 September 2011. 

The community chest small grant scheme is also still open and gives grants out of up to £350. 

The next LJC meeting will be held on Wednesday 16 November 2011, at a venue to be confirmed. 

For further information on the working of the LJC and grants, please contact Lisa Bedford, senior community action officer for the area, on 01584 838241 or 07582 002010 or  email communityaction@shropshire.gov.uk