Agenda item

To receive a report from the Service Manager (Growth) seeking the Cabinet’s agreement on infrastructure projects to be funded in whole or in part by an amount of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies received to date.

Executive Councillor: J Neish.

The Cabinet has:

(a)  noted the information on projects already in receipt of funding commitments and the updates on their delivery;

(b)  noted the funding bids submitted for £50,000 or less and the approvals in line with delegated authority agreed at the Cabinet’s meeting on 22 October 2020 (Minute No 20/33 refers);

(c)  discussed the funding for projects detailed in paragraph 10.2 of the report now submitted and determined the following:

(d)  delegated authority to the Corporate Director (Place) and Service Manager (Growth), in consultation with the Executive Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning, to make final agreements for contracts to be issued on projects allocated CIL monies in principle, subject to provision of necessary evidence, with the exception of the Special School at Alconbury Weald which, due to the scale of funding offered, will be reported back to Cabinet for its final sign off.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Service Manager (Growth) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were invited to consider and agree infrastructure projects as outlined in paragraph 10.2 to be funded in whole or in part by an amount of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies received to date.

By way of background, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning advised that the latest funding round had been launched on 10th November 2020 with  around £28 million of CIL receipts now currently available for spend on infrastructure projects. Attention was drawn to a number of planned strategic transport projects which included the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements, A141 Huntingdon, A14 Improvement Scheme, A1 Improvement Scheme, East West Rail Bedford to Cambridge opportunities and Edison Bell Way link road and the potential for future financial support being requested for these schemes. Finally, it was reported that Appendix 3 of the report outlined project bids under £50,000 which had been determined in accordance with delegated authority given to the Corporate Director (Place) and the Service Manager (Growth) in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning.

Councillor S J Corney, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), presented the outcome of the Panel’s discussions at its meeting on 3rd February 2021 drawing particular attention to the Buckden to Huntingdon Safe Cycling and Walking Route, Cricket Pavilion, King George V Playing Field and Special School (Alconbury Weald) schemes. The Cabinet concurred with the comments of the Panel in respect of Cambridgeshire County Council making a greater contribution to the Buckden to Huntingdon Safe Cycling and Walking scheme and noted the comments which had been made regarding the Cricket Pavilion at King George V Playing Field which was considered to be a desirable scheme rather than essential or critical.

Following debate on each of the schemes outlined in paragraph 10.2 of the report, the Cabinet expressed their support and approval for three of the five schemes, namely Special School (Alconbury Weald), The Valley land management programme and Swimming Pool Changing at One Leisure St Ives. Whilst supportive of the principle of the Buckden-Huntingdon Safe Cycling and Walking Route, it was agreed not to approve the scheme at this stage as the Cabinet would like to see what contribution, if any, would be made by Cambridgeshire County Council towards the cost of the project.

Having regard to the Cricket Pavilion, King George V playing field, in response to questions raised by a Member, it was clarified that the scheme would seek to replace and improve the current facilities provided on the site. Following discussions, and whilst being mindful of the budget available, Members concurred that CIL funding in the Huntingdon area should be prioritised for future major infrastructure projects and agreed not to approve the scheme. Whereupon, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to note the information on projects already in receipt of funding commitments and the updates on their delivery;

(b)  to note the funding bids submitted for £50,000 or less and the approvals in line with delegated authority agreed at the Cabinet’s meeting on 22 October 2020 (Minute No 20/33 refers);

(c)  to determine funding for projects detailed in paragraph 10.2 of the report now submitted as follows:

(d)  to delegate authority to the Corporate Director (Place) and Service Manager (Growth), in consultation with the Executive Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning, to make final agreements for contracts to be issued on projects allocated CIL monies in principle, subject to provision of necessary evidence, with the exception of the Special School at Alconbury Weald which, due to the scale of funding offered, will be reported back to Cabinet for its final sign off.