The need for a CLT in Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis, being a small, picturesque seaside town on the West Dorset coast in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with a rich historical significance well above its size and importance, is much in demand as a place to live or retire to; it is a popular
holiday destination, for weekenders and day trippers; it is affectionately known as "The Pearl of Dorset".
Employment opportunities are rather limited, many jobs being seasonal, so high rents are compounded by relatively low incomes for many residents. Any available building plots command high prices.
Many buildings in the older part of Lyme Regis have been bought as holiday home retreats, or for holiday lettings. There are also many gift shops, restaurants and cafes. Since the 1940's new estates of Council housing were built on the eastern edge of town;
some of this stock has since been sold into the private sector, and the remainder is managed by a local housing association. However, there is a shortage of affordable housing for rent, and many young people, single or with families, find it difficult to obtain
accommodation in their home town; some are forced to look to other towns and villages in West Dorset or East Devon.
The Lyme Regis Community Land Trust has been set up as an effective means of resolving some of the housing needs of local people; A community land trust can work to identify sites for affordable homes, engage with landowners, housing associations, developers
and local authorities, and oversee a project from inception to completion; it can influence policy on allocation and seek to ensure that any affordable homes provision remains in the community for posterity.
A community land trust is, by definition, independent and accountable to the local community, and exists in most cases for the purpose of gaining affordable housing for its community; its directors are volunteers, and are elected by and answerable to its members.
The Lyme Regis CLT is independent from other organisations; however, it has been set up with guidance from the Wessex CLT Project, and is a member of the National CLT Network. It also maintains formal links to the local community through Lyme Regis Town Council.
The four CLT Board of Directors are volunteers, elected at the AGM by the members. Anyone complying with the Rules for Membership, and has a connection to Lyme Regis, by way of work or address, is eligible to become a member of the CLT.
What is the difference between a Community Land Trust and a Housing Association? How does a CLT led scheme benefit Lyme Regis?
If a housing association initiates and builds an affordable housing scheme in Lyme, tenancy of the houses could be open to anyone in the wider district ie West Dorset (although this might not always be the case). If Lyme Regis CLT
initiates a scheme, the housing association that carries out the development is obliged to follow the specially developed allocations policy agreed with the CLT - ie tenancy is open only to people who have a strong link to Lyme Regis, through residency, employment
or family connection.
Responding to local needs and mindful of local sensitivities, the CLT will seek to ensure that key decisions such as the choice of site, number of homes, scheme design and the allocations policy will be taken in the best interests of the town. A Housing Association
would inevitably tend to prioritise much wider considerations.
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Lyme Regis Community Land Trust Privacy Policy
In order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation, that came into force on 25th May 2018, LRCLT has formed the policy below:
The CLT collects private data about its Members, Partners and Suppliers, but does not retain any sensitive data. Non sensitive data held includes name, address, telephone number and email address. A registered Company is required to keep details of Members
and its contractual partners. Information required to maintain accounts will include persons and organisations receiving and supplying funds.
Compliance with laws: The CLT may collect, use, retain, and share information if the CLT has a good faith or belief that it is reasonably necessary to: (a) respond to legal process or to government requests; (b) enforce our agreements, terms and policies; (c)
prevent, investigate, and address fraud and other illegal activity, security, or technical issues; or (d) protect the rights, property, and safety of Members, partners, suppliers or others. This information may be shared with our bank, Companies House and
the Charity Commission, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and any other body which is required by Law or Regulation.
Data on our Members is kept only on paper and is the minimum required by Companies House. This data is supplied by prospective Members on their application forms. Their email addresses are kept personally by the Secretary in an Address Book.
Currently no data is held outside the Registered Office, except on a personal computer when business exists outside the premises. Our company accounts are kept on an Excel spreadsheet. The computer is password protected.
The rights of Members, suppliers and contacts are at all times respected.
LRCLT does not hold data that relates to individual tenants to specific addresses in any of its schemes - such matters are the business of the Housing Association managing the scheme. Names of applicants for new tenancies, and their referees, are held informally
by the CLT to verify local connection at the time the allocations process occurs, for as long as that process requires it, normally several days. This information is not retained after use.
Persons and organisations may contact the Secretary at the Registered Address: Studley, Woodmead Road, Lyme Regis Dorset DT7 3AD, phone 01297 443703; email: lymeregisclt@aol.com.
LRCLT Statement
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary. However, Lyme Regis CLT may also be required to retain this information to comply with legal and regulatory obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce any agreements. We generally keep personal
data for the following time period: 7 years or until Companies House and/or the Charities Commission is informed that Members cease membership or directorships, whichever is the longer. Members’ names may remain on historical documents. Partners’ and certain
consultants’ names will remain for 120 years on the ‘founding’ documents, with any data they have included on those documents.