Background

The Chalk Pit in Anna Valley has been part of the Parish Council estate for many years and has provided an important source of income which in turn has allowed the Parish Council to keep the Precept (the amount that Parishioners contribute each year through TVBC Council Tax) lower than would otherwise be the case, and at the same time, maintain services. 

In 2023, the Rating Valuation of the Chalk Pit site was dramatically changed as part of a post Covid nationwide rating review. In 2023, the 2017 - 2022 RV increased from £12,750 to £21,750 which resulted in rates payable increasing from approximately £1,750 to £14,000 per annum.  The Tenant decided this was commercially unviable and terminated agreement.  The Parish Council faced the prospect of a material increase in operating costs (loss in income and increased liabilities such as insurance and rates) of around £30,000. 

The Parish Council immediately set about identifying any way that these costs could be mitigated as well as looking at ways in which, in the short term while options were evaluated, financial support could be found.  Having completed this before the precept had to be declared (March), The Parish Council has managed to reduce the financial impact to about £8,500. 

Planning the future of the site

The Parish Council has now created a Chalk Pit Working Group where all options will be evaluated and costed.  Professional advice will be sought to confirm the decided course of action is sound and all risks and opportunities have been properly assessed.  In addition, it has been agreed that any re-development option would be financed through grants or co-development and would not rely on a significant increase in the precept. The intention is that this will be completed by July 2024.    This included a Grant from Cowdown Renewables of £5,000 for which the Council is extremely grateful.

Options under review include:

• Sale for redevelopment
• Parish Council redevelopment
• Co-development of existing site with commercial partner

Keeping the Parish Involved

The Work Streams for this group includes Community Engagement and we will be asking parishioners to provide us with their views on the way forward.  This is important, not only because we want your help and participation, but because successfully applying for redevelopment grants needs evidence that the community has been properly consulted.

This process started with the Open Parish Meeting which about 60 parishioners attended, where the implications on the Parish Council Budget and the evaluation process being followed were explained.

Who to contact

Cllr Richard Bennett is the Chair of the Chalk Pit Working Group and all enquiries should be addressed to him at cllrrbennett@upperclatford-pc.gov.uk.