KENSINGTON SOCIETY AND ADVICE ON COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY

Guidance Opportunity: Allocation of Community Infrastructure Levy https://planningconsult.rbkc.gov.uk/consult.ti/NCILbids The Council recently put out a “call for projects” to fund from moneys that they have been collecting from developers since 2015 under the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) scheme. There is some quite serious money available, and bids must be in by 19 August. If you have any ideas, please send them to the Council ASAP. The CIL scheme was introduced by central Government to allow local authorities to charge a levy on new developments in their area, to finance infrastructure to “support” the new development. Infrastructure is broadly defined. It can include for instance improving local streets; the creation of open spaces; the installation of CCTV cameras for community safety; extra policing resources; better facilities for cycling; and measures to improve air quality. The bulk of the funds will go on big projects. But the Council must set aside 15% for projects in the neighbourhood of the development from which the CIL was collected – called “Neighbourhood CIL” or NCIL. The total available for neighbourhood projects currently stands at £2,621,121 – not negligible. It is up to the Council to decide how to distribute the NCIL money geographically – although there must be some connection with the area from which the money was raised. The Council decided, without any consultation, that the funds should be allocated on a ward basis. As some wards (generally the richer ones or those with big building projects) have far more development projects than others, there are big disparities between wards as regards how much each gets. In Kensington, the breakdown is as follows: Abingdon £287,018 Campden £ 57,853 Colville £ 40,991 Courtfield £ 49,404 Dalgarno £ 42,368 (of which £7,078 is to be spent within the St Quintin’s Neighbourhood plan area) Earl’s Court £ 48,528 Golborne £ 46,968 Holland £668,035 Norland £ 92,651 (of which £57, 462 is to be spent within the Norland Neighbourhood Plan area) Notting Dale £44,635 (to be spent outside Norland Neighbourhood Plan area) Pembridge £123,571 Queen’s Gate £ 46,001 St Helens £ 58,111 (of which £22,922 to be spent within the St Quintin’s Neighbourhood Plan area) The Council consulted earlier on what local communities saw as their main priorities. The top borough-wide priorities identified by the (very few) people who responded were: Air quality Policing resources and emergency services Parks and open spaces Streetscape Community safety These various priorities have now been adopted by the Council. However, it has been agreed that, while ward councillors (who will be responsible for choosing projects) should be guided by the community priorities identified for their wards, this does not preclude them from spending on NCIL projects that fall within other priorities. Applications for funds can be made online at https://planningconsult.rbkc.gov.uk/consult.ti/NCILbids It is also possible to apply by email or post. Address: Call for Projects, NCIL funding, RBKC Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 7NX The funds are in addition to the existing “City Living Local Life” money that the Council has for some years allocated to each ward mainly for small one-off local projects – now to be increased to £30k for wards with for three councillors and £21k for two councillor wards. As projects must be approved by local councillors, it may help if you could discuss any proposals with your ward councillors. If there is a community project that you feel would improve/benefit your area, please go onto the website, or write, and send in your comments. This money is for your area and you should exercise your right to direct the funds. Amanda Frame Chairman The Kensington Society