Decision details

To invite the Cabinet to consider recommendations relating to infrastructure projects seeking funding of £100,001 or more in whole or in part from an amount of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies.

The Cabinet has

a)  noted the updates on delivery in relation to the projects previously allocated or in receipt of CIL funding commitments (see Appendix 1);

b)  noted any new allocated CIL projects for £100,000.00 or less approved by delegation on 5th February 2026 (see Appendix 2);

c)  noted the project to be approved in accordance with Stage 2 CIL governance review with the level of funding to be agreed in line with delegated authority as stated at para 2.5 of this report;

d)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.3 to APPROVE funding for 3 Padel Courts in Huntingdon;

e)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.4 to APPROVE funding for a construction skills workshop in Huntingdon;

f)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.5 to APPROVE funding for enhancements and improvements to Paxton Pits;

g)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.6 to APPROVE funding for relocation of the 6^th form college at Abbey College in Ramsey;

h)  agreed officer recommendation at Paragraph 4.7 to APPROVE funding for reconfiguration and refurbishment of the fire station in St Ives;

i)  agreed officer recommendation at Paragraph 4.8 to APPROVE funding for the SAPHIRE new constructional skills centre in St Neots;

k)  agreed officer recommendations at Paragraph 4.10 to APPROVE funding for the increase of two classrooms for Warboys Primary Academy;

l)  agreed officer recommendation at Paragraph 4.11 to APPROVE an extension of time for Wheatsheaf Road; and

m)  agreed to

(1)  support the principle of the allocation of CIL funding towards a youth centre in St Neots;

(2)  support in principle the allocation being for a maximum of £500k;

(3)  a CIL funding award being made, based on (1) and (2), subject to:

(a)  securing ownership or arrangements to acquire the building, or a suitable alternative;

(b)  securing planning permission and any other necessary consents to facilitate the works needed to facilitate the youth centre;

(c)  securing a full commitment from the Town Council towards the proposed scheme; including the identification of and provision of necessary match funding and longer-term funding to ensure the proposal is viable now and in the future;

(d)  the provision of additional information for the scheme to satisfy outstanding concerns such as choice of location, impact on the town centre vitality, assessment of provision of existing and future youth and community spaces, and demonstrate long term viability of the proposal;

(e)  sufficient information and clarification being presented to Officers to demonstrate satisfactory compliance with all other aspects of our established CIL governance;

(f)  all matters being resolved within a period of 6 months (which may be extended by agreement); and

(4)  delegated authority for the final decision to the Head of Planning, Infrastructure & Public Protection in consultation with the Corporate Director (Place), Leader, Executive Councillor for Finance, and Executive Councillor for Planning to approve a CIL funding award for this project and determine the final level of CIL funding to be awarded.

The recommendations for individual funding awards for projects (as stated in section 4) have been considered in accordance with the Council’s governance framework for CIL, as well as the wider legislative context as set out in the report. For each project award, or decline, a reason has been provided which would be communicated to the applicant.

As outlined within the report.

CIL money can only be spent on delivering infrastructure, in accordance with the legal restrictions on the spending of CIL receipts.

Staff resource to administer and monitor the allocation of the CIL. This is funded, in part, by the administration costs permitted from the CIL receipts.

Staff resource from elsewhere in the Council will be used in preparing funding bids and implementing successful cases.