Agenda item

This report seeks approval to an updated process to determine NCIL allocations for financial year 2025-26.

Cabinet RESOLVED

(1)        To approve the administration process for NCIL funding for financial year 2025/26 as outlined in section 7 of the report.

(2)        To approve the requirement that all NCIL funded projects must demonstrate contribution to the neighbourhood priorities outlined in section 4 of the report.

(3)        To approve option 1 (as outlined in section 6 of the report) – a borough wide model for the distribution of funding in 2025/26.

(4)        To approve that a cap on the total funding allocation available for any individual project or programme of work would not be applied (other than not exceeding the total available funding pot).

(5)        To note the proposed timeframes in the process as detailed in section 7 of the report have been significantly streamlined compared to previous years and as such the potential risk of slippage.

(6)        To note the proposed approach to building appropriate communication / promotional material around projects to demonstrate they are funded via NCIL (Council) as set in section 13 of the report.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 23 June 25

Councillor Rubin (Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Community Power) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Service Reform and Strategy seeking approval to the updated process developed to determine NCIL allocations for financial year 2025-26.

In presenting the report, Cabinet were advised that the proposals detailed a streamlined approach to the allocation Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding for 2025-2026 seeking to not only build on neighbourhood priorities but also accelerate project delivery, improve flexibility, and ensure alignment with strategic borough-wide objectives.  In recognising the role of NCIL as a vital mechanism to ensure communities across Brent were able to benefit directly from the range of development happening throughout the borough, members were advised that the recommended approach involved a shift from the previous ward-based allocations to a more flexible borough-wide model, which was felt to offer the greatest flexibility to meet needs and priorities across Brent.  It was pointed out the approach had also been designed to provide a less complex method of distribution, providing equal opportunity for communities across the borough to access funding whilst taking into account the cumulative impacts of development across different areas.

Although mindful of the need to ensure projects were prioritised and allocated in a way that would avoid specific areas being disproportionately advantaged or disadvantaged, the proposed removal of the cap on total funding for individual projects also included within the revised approach had, it was pointed out, been designed to enable delivery of larger, higher-impact projects than could deliver real change.  As a further rationale supporting introduction of a more streamlined process, members were advised of the way it had also been designed to support urgent investment in key physical infrastructure whilst remaining aligned with existing neighbourhood and Brent Connects priorities and contributing to wider Borough Plan objectives.  Under the revised process, NCIL projects would also be expected to contribute to reducing pressure on council revenue budgets, helping protect vital services for the most vulnerable residents.

To ensure delivery of the approach outlined, members were advised that officers would also be seeking to proactively engage with councillors at an earlier stage in the process to identify initiatives that would have the greatest impact, guided by data including resident complaints, member enquiries, and the Brent Social Progress Index.  This would also be supported by a process of improved communication around NCIL-funded projects so that residents were able to understand how the funds being allocated would be able to translate into tangible improvements within their neighbourhoods in a fair and more flexible manner.

In support of the more streamlined approach outlined within the report, Cabinet welcomed what they recognised to be the less complex and more transparent process along with the earlier engagement with local ward councillors.  Members also commended the move towards what was felt to be a fairer and more flexible approach to the distribution of NCIL funds which, whilst continuing to be informed by community priorities (including crime and safety, active travel, public realm and seeking to address wider health and social inequalities across the borough), also recognised the cumulative impacts of development across the borough.

Members also commended the success achieved in terms of the generation and collection of CIL receipts, which was recognised as a further benefit of the efforts being made to deliver the ambitious programme of regeneration across Brent.  In acknowledging the way in which the streamlined process would support local communities as well as the delivery of key infrastructure and ensure that growth being delivered worked for all sections of the community Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)       To approve the administration process for NCIL funding for financial year 2025/26 as outlined in section 7 of the report.

(2)       To approve the requirement that all NCIL funded projects must demonstrate contribution to the neighbourhood priorities outlined in section 4 of the report.

(3)       To approve option 1 (as outlined in section 6 of the report) – a borough wide model for the distribution of funding in 2025/26.

(4)       To approve that a cap on the total funding allocation available for any individual project or programme of work would not be applied (other than not exceeding the total available funding pot).

(5)       To note the proposed timeframes in the process, as detailed in section 7 of the report, had been significantly streamlined compared to previous years and as such the potential risk of slippage.

(6)       To note the proposed approach to building appropriate communication / promotional material around projects to demonstrate they were funded via NCIL (Council) as set in section 13 of the report.