Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor de Whalley.

The notes of the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Members should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100b(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was no urgent business to consider.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

There were no Members present pursuant to Standing Order 34.

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

Click here to view a recording of this item on You Tube

The Senior CIL Officer updated the Panel on the amendments made to the Spending Strategy and Policy document since the previous meeting held on 29 July 2025 and following advice from Legal and Audit. 

The Senior CIL Officer outlined the purpose of the meeting to the Panel was to create an application form and identify validation criteria, and from the Strategic Infrastructure Projects consider setting up an Officer/Member Working Group and agree the process to recommend projects.  The Senior CIL Officer added that Members had been provided with a copy of the draft funding application form.

In response to a comment from the Chair regarding training, the Senior CIL Officer explained that this would come under Stage 3 of the process, and a link had been distributed to a good example of guidance for the production of Parish Infrastructure Investment Plans produced by East Suffolk.  Officers would be producing a similar guidance document for Parish Councils within King’s Lynn and West Norfolk which would be used as a basis for parish training in relation to their infrastructure plans.

In terms of a timetable for training, the Senior CIL Officer explained that it would depend on the outcome of the meeting today because the Panel would be considering setting a ‘go-live’ date and producing and publicising documents and provide training, under stage three.

In response to a question from Councillor Blunt, the Senior CIL Officer confirmed that as part of stage three, there would be awareness training for Members and Parish Clerks.

AGREED:       That the Panel was content with the proposed application form and validation criteria.

Setting up an Officer / Member Working Group to identify Infrastructure Projects and agree a process to Cabinet

Members attention was drawn to page 14 of the CIL Spending Strategy.  It was advised that projects would be selected from the Council’s Capital Projects Programme from Tiers 1 to 3.  It was noted that:

Tier 1 – Major projects / schemes that were approved by Cabinet / Council to go live / were in progress.

Tier 2 – Operational projects that were approved by Cabinet / Council to go live / were in progress.

Tier 3 – Projects and schemes awaiting detailed consideration by Cabinet or Council before transition to go live under either Tier 1 or 2.

The Planning Control Manager advised that within the projects the CIL Officers would identify what projects fitted within the definition of CIL Infrastructure – essential, desirable and beneficial and that then created the Panel’s list of projects to consider and to make recommendations on.  It was noted that the CIL Spending Panel had approval to spend up to £100,000 on strategic projects and anything above that would have to go to Cabinet with recommendations from the Panel.

The Panel discussed the setting up of a Member / Officer Working Group to identify Infrastructure Projects or whether the Panel felt that there had already been a level  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

This was discussed above.

To be advised.

The next meeting would be held in late January / early February 2026.