Agenda item

To consider recommendations relating to infrastructure projects seeking funding 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 previously allocated or in receipt of funding commitments and the updates on their delivery (as outlined in Appendix 1);

(b)  agreed Officer recommendations for projects submitted in this round for over £50,000 Community Infrastructure Levy funding a(s detailed in Appendix 2);

(c)  noted the bids submitted in this round for £50,000 or less Community Infrastructure Levy funding and the approvals in line with delegated authority (as outlined in Appendix 3);

(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;

(e)  approved the funding for the Special School at Alconbury Weald which, due to the scale of funding offered was approved in principle by Cabinet on 11th February 2021 (Minute No. 20/53 refers) and, following submission of additional information, is reported back to Cabinet for approval; and

(f)  agreed an extension of time until 31st July 2022 for Warboys Village Hall project.

See Minute No. 21/35 for Members’ Interests.

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 seeking funding 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 13th September 2021 which could be utilised towards a number of Strategic Transport items, as outlined in paragraph 3.3 of the report, as well supporting the delivery of growth in the District as identified in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan and the Council’s Corporate Plan. He then went on to report that Appendix 3 of the report outlined project bids under £50,000 which had been determined in accordance with delegated powers. 

Attention was then drawn to Appendix 2, which outlined a proposal relating to St Neots Museum seeking CIL funding of £750,000. The project was being proposed for decline as it was felt that it would provide low value for money based on its importance in terms of infrastructure needs, the current position in respect of match funding and the likely impact of the project upon new growth. Furthermore, it had been noted that there were some concerns around the existing maintenance of the building. Councillor K Prentice reported that the project was one that was supported by both the Town and County Councils and that he had personally written in a letter of support for the project in his capacity as Ward and County Councillor and that he would not be voting on the matter.

Following debate on the application and having been informed that it was the Cabinet’s role to either accept or decline the application presented before them, Executive Members then noted the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth). Whereupon, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to note the information on projects previously allocated or in receipt of funding commitments and the updates on their delivery (as outlined in Appendix 1);

(b)  to agree Officer recommendations for projects submitted in this round for over £50,000 Community Infrastructure Levy funding (as detailed in Appendix 2);

(c)  to note the bids submitted in this round for £50,000 or less Community Infrastructure Levy funding and the approvals in line with delegated authority (as outlined in Appendix 3);

(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;

(e)  to approve the funding for the Special School at Alconbury Weald which, due to the scale of funding offered was approved in principle by Cabinet on 11th February 2021 (Minute No. 20/53 refers) and, following submission of additional information, is reported back to Cabinet for approval; and

(f)  to agree an extension of time until 31st July 2022 for Warboys Village Hall project.

(Councillor K Prentice abstained from voting on this item).