Issue - meetings

This report introduces the Council’s second Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS), which has been prepared in line with the CIL Regulations (as amended).

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To note the content of the report and Appendix 1 “Brent Infrastructure Funding Statement 2020/21”

(2)    To approve the Infrastructure Funding Statement for publication.

Councillor Tatler (Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning) introduced the report, which detailed the Council’s second Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) prepared in accordance with the requirements within the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.

In considering the report, Cabinet noted the outline provided relating to the purpose of CIL as a funding mechanism to assist in the delivery of infrastructure to support development of an area and annual requirement within the IFS to detail how CIL funding has been spent in line with the regulations.  In addition, the IFS was designed to set out, where possible, future spending priorities on infrastructure in line with growth identified within the Local Plan, Borough Plan and Capital Pipeline, with confirmation provided that CIL could not be used to fund pre-existing budget deficits or deficiencies.

Whilst recognising the impact of the pandemic on the programme of development across the borough, members noted the continued strong performance of the Council in terms of the collection of CIL receipts, as detailed within section 3 of the report.  The wide ranging and diverse nature of infrastructure projects being supported through the CIL process was also highlighted and commended by members (with specific reference to the Morland Gardens Scheme and Youth Provision) along with the allocation of funding aligned to support corporate strategies, including the Black Community Action Plan, Poverty Commission Action Plan, Inclusive Growth Strategy, Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and Draft Long Term Transport Strategy.  Clarification was also provided in relation to the use of Neighbourhood CIL in an area with a Neighbourhood Forum, with confirmation provided that up to 25% of CIL funds collected from liable developments within a Forum boundary could be spent on priorities identified by the Neighbourhood Forum covering that area provided they were operating with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan.  Of the three Neighbourhood Forums operating in Brent, members were advised that two (Sudbury Town Residents Association and Harlesden) were operating with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan.

Having thanked officers for their efforts in relation to performance on the collection of CIL receipts during such a challenging period and noted the associated benefits being achieved through the wider regeneration programme across the borough Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)     To note the content of the report and Brent Infrastructure Funding Statement 2020/21, as detailed within Appendix 1.

(2)     To approve the Infrastructure Funding Statement for publication.