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FUNDS SUPPORT VILLAGE PROJECTS

Community projects have benefited from the Parish Council so far this year, including money spent on the Village Hall and a provisional grant to assist with the potential purchase of The Winning Horse pub.

The Parish Precept is an annual levy raised on all council taxpayers and based, like council tax, on the value of their property. It is separate from the council tax, which goes to Surrey County Council and Elmbridge Borough Council, and separate from the levy raised by Surrey Police. All the money collected for the Parish Precept is spent in Claygate, for Claygate residents.

The Council is able to continue supporting local causes thanks to the increase in the annual Parish Precept, which for eight years remained unchanged so that its value was gradually eroded. This made it difficult to continue providing many of its services to the community and to support projects. The levy was therefore increased by 12 per cent for the 2024-25 year, meaning a Band D equivalent property now pays £15.85 for the year to the end of March 2025.

So far this year, the Parish Council has supported the following community projects:

• £10,679 refurbishment grant for the Claygate Village Hall towards the cost of stage improvements and furnishings.
• £2,000 grant to the Claygate Community Benefit Society to pay for the valuation of The Winning Horse pub.
• £481 to the Claygate Recreation Ground Trust towards the cost of new benches for the area outside Treetops.
• £500 to the Claygate Village Association towards the cost of the stage at the village lights event on The Parade (see CVA news, page 10).
• £400 to the Claygate Village Association towards the cost of the Christmas tree on The Green.

In addition to the Precept, the Council can benefit from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which Elmbridge Borough Council can charge on specific new building developments. The sum received by the Parish Council can be spent on projects that could not otherwise be supported from the Precept or other funds.

The Parish Council has earmarked £50,000 from its CIL grant for the Claygate Community Benefit Society, the funding being contingent upon it raising the rest of the money required to purchase and renovate The Winning Horse pub as a community venue (see page 5).

Any local group or organisation planning a project to benefit the local community might be eligible for a Parish Council grant or Community Infrastructure Levy support. Please visit the council’s website claygateparishcouncil.gov.uk or contact the Parish Clerk at clerk@claygateparishcouncil.gov.uk to find out more.

LITTER PICK

A warm thank you from Claygate Parish Council to all the volunteers who gave up their time on Saturday October 5 to take part in the community litter pick. With a great communal effort, we are keeping Claygate green and clean.

Please look out for advertisements of the next clean-up event—refreshments are provided to all volunteers.