Step into Dragons’ Den for share of £100m
SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL ASKS PEOPLE TO PITCH PROJECTS
SURREY county councillor Mark Nuti is playing Dragons’ Den’s Peter Jones as the local authority asks the public to pitch projects to enhance Surrey’s communities.
The county council launched its £100 million scheme last week, which gives financial backing to ideas put forward by residents and community groups.
People are being encouraged to ‘think big’ to improve their area, with around £20 million up for grabs each year over the next five years and the minimum giveaway set at £10,000.
Deputy cabinet member Cllr Nuti, who is the leading the Your Fund
Surrey scheme, said: “This is groundbreaking in the public sector.
“I’m not aware of anything else on this scale. We’re giving ownership back to the residents. There is no bad idea.
“The council is constantly telling people what they want and what they need. The classic example is the youth centre that goes to rack and ruin within two years because no one was asked if they wanted one. We’re saying, tell us what you want and we’ll try to make it happen.
“During Covid, we’ve seen some communities grow and come back to life again. We hope to embolden them to continue coming to the fore.”
He added: “It’s lovely to be in a position where we don’t have to say no all the time.”
Ideas can be plotted on an interactive online map, with people able to comment or simply give a project idea a thumbs up.
So far, suggestions include a public toilet for Tongham Recreation Ground, a village hall for Ripley, a youth club for Horley and a community-owned shop and cafe in Normandy.
The fund was approved by the county council’s cabinet in July from its capital budget, that is for long-lasting investments.
So the project needs to be something built to last and running costs cannot be funded. Anyone proposing an idea will need to have a business plan for how it will operate once it is up and running.
The entire five-year scheme being funded through borrowing. is
This may raise some eyebrows when the county council needs to make about £40m efficiencies each year during this time.
The council, however, said it expects the projects to generate income, building resilience in communities.
Cllr Nuti said: “You have to speculate to accumulate. This will be a legacy for years to come.”
To give an idea of how much projects cost, a community centre could be between £350,000 to £1m; transforming wasteland into an astro pitch with floodlights could cost about £200,000; while a shower block and changing rooms for a cricket club may need about £95,000.
If more funding is required, the county council will advise where to look. Residents are asked to start thinking and speaking to their county councillor, community groups, neighbours and friends about what they want.
Projects that meet the criteria and prove they will deliver a positive benefit for local people will be taken through an application process.
The first funding will be administered in the spring next year.