Cynics might wonder whether this generosity is entirely unrelated to the fact that the Heath elected Salisbury’s first Reform councillor in May.
But we all know what they say about gift horses, and the funds are certainly very much needed.
I do, however, have questions aplenty, to be answered by officialdom in due course. At present, no-one seems quite sure of the detail.
Firstly, what precise area is the government classifying as ‘Bemerton’? In terms of electoral wards, we have Bemerton Heath, and we have Fisherton & Bemerton Village. Where does the largesse stop?
Who will have the final say-so in how the £2million a year is spent?
Secretary of State Steve Reed insists it will be residents, “local people calling the shots”.
He seems to envisage some kind of neighbourhood board with an independent chair, to include residents, businesses, community organisations, etc, working in partnership with their council.
So how will that sit alongside what Wiltshire Council already does, or its Salisbury Area Board, with its own limited funding to give away?
And what of the City Council? I ask because for years our brilliant staff have delivered community projects and worked with families and young people, all on a shoestring, via our Bemerton Heath Centre.
There’s the rest of Salisbury to look after, and no other ward is getting anything like this investment. How will this not be divisive?
Will Trowbridge be tempted to dip into the funding to subsidise its statutory responsibilities? I’m thinking potholes, for example, if that’s what residents prioritise.
And where does this leave city councillors who are starting to consider ways of allocating CIL money? That’s money from developers, intended to compensate for the disruption and pressure on community facilities that they cause – Harnham’s Netherhampton Road being a current case in point. Bemerton Heath, funnily enough, being another.
Our CIL income has gone up lately, because a referendum approved the Neighbourhood Plan, which entitled us to a higher percentage, while Wiltshire’s share shrank accordingly.
Already there are murmurs of disagreement about how this CIL should be shared round.
People in wards unaffected by major developments shouldn’t be expected to miss out entirely when rare windfalls come our way.
So my suggestion would be for a 50:50 or 60:40 split between projects to benefit residents in the most heavily impacted wards, such as mine, and facilities to serve our citywide population.
Lots to think about. Feel free to share your thoughts: ariddle@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk.
Cllr Annie Riddle (Harnham West)
Independent member of the Salisbury City Council administration
