Issue - meetings

1.    That an increase of £60,619 to the existing £700,000 budget for CIL funded Community Projects be approved, with the total budget to re-profiled to 2025/26.

2.    That a funding allocation of £760,619 from Winchester City Council CIL income receipts and the expenditure under Financial Procedure rule 7.4 for the following community-led projects be approved:

b)    Badger Farm Community Centre - £21,230

c)    Colden Common Parish Council - £80,000

d)    Curdridge Parish Council - £48,000

e)    Kings Worthy Parish Council - £17,835

f)      Wickham Community Centre - £31,589

g)    Allegra’s Ambition - £55,000

h)    Unit 12 - £28,465

i)      Hampshire County Council - £146,000

j)      Weeke Primary School - £32,500

k)    Kings School - £300,000

3.    That it be noted that three applications were refused.

4.    That it be noted that £300,000 was previously allocated to the Winchester Upper High Street contra-flow cycle route scheme, which is no longer going ahead, so can be released back to the fund for future allocation.

5.    That a funding allocation and capital budget and expenditure of £150,000 be approved in 2025/26 from the Winchester City Council CIL receipts ring-fenced to support transport and active travel projects, for the provision of a zebra crossing on Winchester Road in Waltham Chase and additional pedestrian measures for other locations in Waltham Chase.

6.    That authority be delegated to the Corporate Head of Economy and Community to approve grant payments (in instalments where appropriate) based on evidence of spend provided by the applicant.

7.    That authority be delegated to the Service Lead Legal to enter into the grant funding agreements in accordance with the council’s funding criteria.

8.    That authority be delegated to the Corporate Head of Economy and Community, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan, to make procedural improvements to the approved CIL funding process.

Councillor Porter introduced the report and highlighted that paragraph 2.4 of the report summarised how the CIL funding would be allocated.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Lee and Horrill addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Lee

Councillor Lee welcomed the district approach and particularly the proposed allocation for the provision of a zebra crossing on Winchester Road in Waltham Chase and additional pedestrian measures for other locations in Waltham Chase.  He queried whether there would be a review to ensure inflation and increasing construction costs were taken into account.

Councillor Horrill

Councillor Horrill welcomed the cross section of projects and raised a number of detailed questions namely: the procedural improvements proposed; details of the applications refused; ensuring bidders secured the support of councillors; the membership of the CIL working group; how the CIL programme was monitored and the future impact of the CIL allocation for the CWR scheme.

Councillor Porter, the Service Lead – Community and the CIL Implementation Officer responded to the comments and questions raised. 

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.             That an increase of £60,619 to the existing £700,000 budget for CIL funded Community Projects be approved, with the total budget to re-profiled to 2025/26.

2.             That a funding allocation of £760,619 from Winchester City Council CIL income receipts and the expenditure under Financial Procedure rule 7.4 for the following community-led projects be approved:

a)    Badger Farm Community Centre - £21,230

b)    Colden Common Parish Council - £80,000

c)    Curdridge Parish Council - £48,000

d)    Kings Worthy Parish Council - £17,835

e)    Wickham Community Centre - £31,589

f)      Allegra’s Ambition - £55,000

g)    Unit 12 - £28,465

h)    Hampshire County Council - £146,000

i)      Weeke Primary School - £32,500

j)      Kings School - £300,000

3.             That it be noted that three applications were refused.

4.             That it be noted that £300,000 was previously allocated to the Winchester Upper High Street contra-flow cycle route scheme, which is no longer going ahead, so can be released back to the fund for future allocation.

5.             That a funding allocation and capital budget and expenditure of £150,000 be approved in 2025/26 from the Winchester City Council CIL receipts ring-fenced to support transport and active travel projects, for the provision of a zebra crossing on Winchester Road in Waltham Chase and additional pedestrian measures for other locations in Waltham Chase.

6.             That authority be delegated to the Corporate Head of Economy and Community to approve grant payments (in instalments where appropriate) based on evidence of spend provided by the applicant.

7.             That authority be delegated to the Service Lead Legal to enter into the grant funding agreements in accordance with the council’s funding criteria.

8.             That authority be delegated to the Corporate Head of Economy and Community, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan, to make procedural improvements to the approved CIL funding process.