Agenda item

This report outlines a proposal seeking use of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funding to make investment in important public realm infrastructure to support growth and development in the Borough, with a focus on Highways, Parks and CCTV installations and improvements to ensure that the growth of the Borough as a consequence of new developments and a growing population can be adequately supported.

Cabinet RESOLVED to allocate up to £14,533,000 of SCIL funding to support much needed infrastructure improvement in relation to highways, parks, and CCTV.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 4 August 25

Councillor Krupa Sheth (Cabinet Member for Public Realm & Enforcement) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Neighbourhoods & Regeneration seeking approval to the use of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funding to support investment in public realm infrastructure designed to support growth and development, with a focus on Highways, Parks and CCTV to ensure the necessary support was provide to reflect the ongoing level of new developments across the borough.

In presenting the report to Cabinet, members noted that the proposals included £14m of what was regarded as transformative SCIL investment in Brent’s public realm designed to enhance a range of spaces and infrastructure such as footways, parks, CCTV and street lighting in direct response to issues identified by local residents as being priorities to ensure their local neighbourhoods remained clean, safe and welcoming places where they could feel proud to live.

In highlighting the borough wide nature of the programme of investment, members were advised of the way it had been focussed to deliver what were felt to be real and tangible improvements across each Brent Connects area, supporting better-maintained roads and pavements, tree planting, rejuvenated playgrounds, and a modernised CCTV network that would help to tackle antisocial behaviour and build community confidence in a way that would ensure Brent’s public realm continued to evolve in a way that was fair, inclusive, and driven by genuine community need.

In support of the approach outlined within the report, Cabinet welcomed the proposed use of SCIL funding to support investment in the public realm, recognising the impact of the previous Government’s programme of austerity in terms of the funding available to invest in areas such as public realm.  In recognising the sustained pressure and demand for investment given the significant population growth and demographic changes over recent years, members also commended the move towards an integrated and strategic programme of activity to deliver the improvements and changes being sought across public realm services including the focus on CCTV, which were informed by community priorities whilst also recognising 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 with the approach set out in the report also felt to reflect the beginning of a more dynamic, targeted and responsive approach towards the use of SCIL.

In acknowledging the extent of the proposed investment, which it was noted would include upgrades to roads and pavements (which a focus on growth and intensification areas); replacement and improvement of street lighting; removal of tree stumps to allow for new planting and a safer more walkable borough; the upgrading of play equipment and repairs to footpaths in parks as well as the enhancement and expansion of CCTV digital infrastructure, members were also keen to recognise the way in which the 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 in order to deliver a clean, green and safe borough.

As a result, Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the recommended allocation of up to £14,533,000 of SCIL funding to support much needed infrastructure improvement in relation to highways, parks, and CCTV, as outlined in the report.