Agenda item

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The Chair invited the CIL Governance Officer to present the report to the Spending Panel and to highlight the major changes.  The CIL Governance Officer advised that the document had been prepared based on the Panel’s comments at the meeting held on 28 April 2022.

The CIL Governance Officer drew attention to the following:

2.0.1    Changes to the Governance arrangements:

·        Infrastructure Projects over £30,001

·        Infrastructure Projects up to £30,000

·        Transfer of funds within the project groups up to a maximum of 10% of the available CIL funding

·        Changes to the project scoring – extra criteria and text had been added to the application form.

·        Extra information had been provided regarding infrastructure – the project had to be clearly defined as ‘Infrastructure’ as per the CIL Regulations.

·        BCKLWN linked funding applications or subsidiary organisations would be passed to Cabinet for scrutiny as part of the decision-making process.

In relation to a comment from Councillor de Whalley regarding 3.0.8 Expression of Interest, the CIL Monitoring Officer explained that this would be made on a standard online template issued by the Council.  She also outlined the range of proposals that would take place, once the changes to the Governance document had been approved by Cabinet, to simplify the process.

The Chair suggested that there should be a briefing to all Councillors on how Parish Councils could be supported.

4.         Infrastructure Project Funding Allocation – over £30,001

The CIL Monitoring Officer outlined the changes / further information to the current list of Infrastructure Projects eligible for funding over £30,001, which was in line with the Borough Council’s Corporate Business Plan.

The Spending Panel welcomed the further information that had been provided.

5.         Infrastructure Project Funding Allocation between £2,000 and £30,000

5.0.2    Project applications must be made in liaison with Parish/Town Councils and Wards, as appropriate.  It was suggested that this be amended to relevant Ward Members.

5.0.3    In relation to the unparished area of King’s Lynn may liaise with the King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee and Wards, as appropriate.  It was agreed that the Terms of Reference for KLACC should be checked.  Also add Unparished areas should liaise with their relevant Ward Member.

5.0.9    Further information had been provided in line with the corporate ideology.  Economic Development had also been added.

5.1.2    There had been some further text added regarding the factors that projects would be assessed against.

6.0.2    More information had been provided on what happened next once a decision had been made.

Discussion took place on project timescales and monitoring projects.  The CIL Governance Officer explained that the funding was paid on completion of the project, and within the first year a progress report was requested on all projects, which was part of the agreement which had been signed up to.  If a project had not been commenced within 12 months, then the funding could be withdrawn.  It was important that their timetable was accurate, however the time period could be extended in exceptional circumstances.  There was a legal agreement in place which must be signed and returned, and this had been explained further in section 6.

The CIL Governance Officer advised the Spending Panel of the changes to the application scoring and match funding. 

It was advised that the report would be considered by the R & D Panel and then to Cabinet.

AGREED:       That Spending Panel welcomed the revisions to the Draft Governance document 2023 subject to the amendments noted above in relation to 5.0.2 and 5.0.3.