Meet the board and find out how to become a member
Meet the Board
Members of the Marsham CLT board are local residents with a broad range of backgrounds and experience.
Rodney Buse Chair
When a site became possible for affordable housing, I felt it was important for me to get involved.
I feel so sad that people that have lived locally for years are faced with moving away as homes become ever more expensive. We know that Guestling, Pett and Fairlight are not unusual in facing, what is becoming an ever-increasing problem.
Other communities have found a way of addressing, at least in part, this problem by setting up community land trusts. Through my charity interests I have been engaged with CLTs for some 20 years, and I asked myself how could I not get involved when the opportunity arose on my doorstep?>/p>
Having just had solar panels fitted myself, it is important to me that any development is both energy efficient and set within an ecology that enhances the natural environment. I believe that these things matter more now than ever before.
It is with strong community engagement that opportunities should be grasped; only then can we begin to meet the needs of local people for affordable homes within an attractive setting.
Tim Jury Director
I've lived and farmed at Pickham Farm all my life, mostly rearing sheep and cattle.
I've always felt farming should be considerate of nature and this is what excites me about our potential project, providing affordable homes for local people.
Homes that blend in with and minimise the impact on the environment. I like to think I've been active in the local community and I have long since held the view that market forces and poor governance over the last few decades have led to very few affordable homes being made available to those who wish to continue to live in the community where they grew up.
Marion Roberts Director
I have lived in Guestling for nearly 30 years. During this time I have seen children of friends have to leave the rural area due to not being able to afford to stay.
When the opportunity to be involved in this project arose, I was keen as it soon became clear that this was not just another faceless development but something that would be owned and run by locals for local occupation only, in perpetuity.
Having been lucky enough to grow up mainly in a rural environment myself I appreciate that having the chance to stay is a great opportunity.
Jeff Newnham Director
For the past 45 years I have lived and worked as a farrier in this wonderful area of England.
During this time, I have witnessed many changes to villages and communities, some good but many bad.
When the opportunity arose to be involved with a Community Land Trust and to work with the community to develop some Council owned land for affordable housing to those with a link to the area, I jumped at the chance!
Marsham Community Land Trust Membership Policy 2024
Marsham Community Last Trust is a Community Benefit Society, registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, to further, in a sustainable manner, the social, economic and/or environmental interests of people who live and/or work, in the Marsham area by:
- Acquiring, developing and stewardship land and other assets
- Promoting community-led initiatives, such as housing, community facilities, workspaces, renewable energy and sustainable land management projects
- CLTs are non-profit, community-based organisations run by volunteers to address the needs of their local area.
The key criteria for CLTs are defined by statute in section 79 of the housing and Regeneration Act 2008 which states that:
- A CLT must be established as a non-profit organisation with a membership that is open to all who live and work in a community. The members must also own and control the organisation;
- A CLT must be established for the express purpose of furthering the social, economic and environmental interests of a local community;
- The land and property assets of a CLT must be used to provide a benefit to a local community and must be protected in the long term by a legal asset-lock.
Marsham CLT adopts an approach that combines participatory community engagement and learning in action to create and sustain an enabling environment for community-led initiatives.
Marsham CLT has three classes of members as follows:
Individual Community: Anyone living or working in the Marsham area who wishes to support our aims or who wants to apply to live in our housing. Although it should be noted that membership of the CLT does not imply preferential treatment in the allocation of housing.
Corporate and local authority: Other individuals or relevant organisations in Marsham wishing to make a particular contribution to the CLT.
Charities/local businesses: Local charities/businesses who wish to support our work.
Becoming a member
Marsham CLT welcomes applications from anyone over 18 who supports our work irrespective of gender, sexuality, disability, race or religion. An application should be made on the corresponding form, including contact details and indicating the motivation for membership, with justification for the class of membership being applied for. Members must live or work in Marsham.
Successful individual applicants become members on the payment of a single one-pound share, corporate bodies £250 pa, local charities/businesses £25 pa.
Benefits of membership
You will receive regular newsletters
You can vote at the AGM and at regular general meetings
You can stand for election to the Board
You can vote in the election of Directors to the Board
You can get involved by volunteering to support the work of the CLT
Ceasing Membership:
Members can terminate at any time by informing the secretary.
Aims of Marsham CLT
To further, in a sustainable manner, the social, economic and environmental interests of people who live and /or work, in the Marsham area by some or all of the following means:
- by acquiring, holding, providing, leasing, developing and managing land and other assets in the area of benefit;
- by promoting, supporting, developing and facilitating community-led land or other asset-based initiatives, resources and services (including but not limited to housing, community facilities, community businesses, renewable energy and sustainable land management projects); and
- by carrying out any other activity that the directors consider would further the social, economic and environmental interests of the community in the area of benefit relating to the stewardship of land and other assets.
Masrsham CLT shall ensure that any land or assets it owns are not sold or developed except in a manner which the Trust approves as being of benefit to the people who live and/or work in the area of benefit.
Marsham CLT are looking to recruit new directors and members from the local community.
Please complete our membership form to apply.