Solar farms and community sweeteners

Following on from the story 
Community 'short-changed by £600,000' over solar farm | This is Cornwall
Futures Forum: Solar farms in East Devon..... an approval at Exmouth.......... and a new application at Sidbury.....
and in the context of
Futures Forum: Solar, wind, fracking: "We seem simultaneously to be mismanaging the exploitation of three key decentralised energy sources."

there have been further developments in the town of Callington in Cornwall:

Councillor warns: Don’t be duped by solar farm 'sweeteners'

By Western Morning News  |  Posted: January 29, 2014

Communities across the South West should be wary of large cash sweeteners offered by developers hoping of securing planning consent, a Cornish councillor has warned.

Speaking at an open meeting of Callington Town Council, Jeremy Gist said residents should not be taken in by false promises.

He was responding to growing outrage in the East Cornwall town that a Community Benefit payment of £625,000 offered by a solar farm developer has been reduced to just £20,000.

The special meeting of Callington Town Council was arranged to allow members of the public to question a representative of Cornwall Council, which, as a the planning authority, granted permission for the siting of a five megawatt solar farm at Haye Road on the edge of the town.

Callington town councillor warns communities against being duped by cash sweeteners offered by solar farm comnpanies | Western Morning News
When is a community sweetener not a community sweetener? | Sidmouth Independent News

Meanwhile, central government is promoting 'community energy':

Community energy covers aspects of collective action to reduce, purchase, manage and generate energy.

Community energy projects have an emphasis on local engagement, local leadership and control and the local community benefiting collectively from the outcomes.

Community-led action can often tackle challenging issues around energy, with community groups well placed to understand their local areas and to bring people together with common purpose.

Community Energy - Detailed guidance - GOV.UK
Futures Forum: Community Energy Strategy
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