Charities and other groups are facing a longer-than-expected wait to find out if their bids for funding from Croydon Council have been successful.

At a meeting on Wednesday, July 25 the Safer Neighbourhood Board (SNB) could not vote on the bids for the second time as not enough people had attended.

After more than two hours of listening to presentations from a number of organisations the board was told by council officer Cliona May that the meeting was not ‘quorate’ – meaning not enough members of the board were present to vote on the bids.

The same problem had occurred the previous time the board met earlier this year.

The board’s former chairwoman Marion Burchell agreed that the terms of reference on the board needed to be reviewed to make it clearer who could vote and how many people were needed.

She added: “I think it is really unfair for the people that have come here tonight.”

After an ‘informal discussion’ at the meeting it was decided that new chair Donna Murray-Turneron funding, with allocations arranged through email with all the board members.

The SNB is funded by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.

A decision is expected to be made this week