Decision Details

Nicola Parrish, Infrastructure Delivery Manager, Development Management,  Nicola.parrish@eastsuffolk.gov.uk 

Ben Woolnough, Head of Planning, Ben.woolnough@eastsuffolk.gov.uk 

To ensure that infrastructure projects that are funded through District CIL are well planned, meet strategic objectives, support new housing growth that is happening in the area and are delivered in the short term

To ensure systems around the allocation of forward funding of Neighbourhood CIL are robust and transparent.

To ensure ongoing and annual review of the CIL Spending Strategy to address emerging risks and changes in legislation and statutory guidance.

To comply with the CIL Regulation 2010 (as amended) and publish the 2023-24 Infrastructure Funding Statement within required deadlines.

Since the allocation and spend of CIL Funding is set out in legislation there are limited options to deviate from the processes that are necessary to ensure statutory requirements are acted on. The CIL Spending Strategy describes the why and how decisions are made in relation to funding infrastructure projects through CIL. 

Other Councils that pool their CIL to deliver on shared strategic aims have not then been able to ensure that the CIL is directed to the right infrastructure at the right time in a reactive way to the growth that is happening in their areas. This has also resulted in risk of borrowing against estimated future receipts that are unpredictable in their timing and increased borrowing costs that CIL is not permitted to cover. This practice is therefore not recommended as a sustainable approach.

Where councils have passed District CIL straight into a Capital Programme Fund, there is conflict between spending on other priorities. This means the CIL is then not available to ensure the new growth is sustainable through delivery of critical and essential 
infrastructure such as Health Centres and schools

That the Cabinet:

1. Approved the recommendations of the CSWG within the CIL spending Report and to approve funding for the District CIL bid projects proposed to support the planned new housing developments across the East Suffolk area.

2. Noted the ringfencing of £13m District CIL by the CIL Spending Working Group to secure Health and Education projects proposed to be delivered in the 5-year period.

3. Approved the CSWG recommended amendments to the CIL Spending Strategy, namely:

a) The new annual allocation of 3% of the financial year District CIL receipts to create a new Local CIL Play Fund (for funding of play park improvement projects in areas of growth, in line with the existing allocation criteria of Local CIL Bids - £50k max match funded projects).

b) For the CSWG to approve the requested sums for forward funding of Neighbourhood CIL allocations, subject to officer verification and recommendation to a maximum value of up to £1m. (including the required updated Terms of Reference to clarify and update the CIL Spending Strategy to provide for annual reporting on this to Cabinet)

c) The addition to the Strategy of new actions to ensure the ongoing review of ringfencing needs and affordability from CIL is considered across future years and to include the reporting of ringfenced sums to Cabinet.

4. Approved the draft Infrastructure Funding Statement 2023-24 (Appendix C) for publication, subject to minor amendments to be approved through the Chair of the CIL Spending Working Group/Cabinet Member for Planning. Publication to be made by 31 December 2024 statutory deadline.