Agenda item

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The CIL Monitoring Officer presented the Panel with an update.  A copy of the presentation is attached.

The presentation provided an overview of projects, spending, those applications which had returned agreements and those that were awaiting further actions.

The CIL Monitoring Officer provided information on the closure of accounts 22/23 including the total CIL income, payments received and details of exemptions and funding allocated and spent for 22/23, including any underspend.

The percentage of funding per zone, broken down into North, South and King’s Lynn and overall funding per each zone was provided to the Panel.  In response to questions from the Panel, the CIL Monitoring Officer provided information on North, South and King’s Lynn development and CIL applications, as set out below.

A summary of completed projects and payments made was provided and Councillor de Whalley asked if projects had mainly been completed within their timeframes.  The CIL Monitoring Officer explained that in the first round, all projects were allocated funding and the requirement was to commence within one year and complete within five years.  Some projects had been delayed and timescales had been tightened up in the second round of allocations.

Underspend was highlighted and it was explained that this would be reallocated.  The Panel were also reminded that funding could not be awarded retrospectively.

Information on the latest round of funding (March 2023) was provided.  It was highlighted that regular monitoring would be conducted to ensure projects were progressing and regular updates were required.  The information on progress with applications was available on the website.

The Panel were asked to consider a project for North Runcton Flood Alleviation work.  The CIL Monitoring Officer explained that the work had started before the CIL allocation and she asked the Panel to consider if funding should be withdrawn.  The Panel agreed that it should be withdrawn.

The CIL Monitoring Officer provided the Panel with information on projects that had not yet started and reminded the Panel that evidence of completion of the project was required before payments would be made.

Councillor Blunt asked about Marshland St James Tea Room and it was explained that they had received an offer letter and the Council were awaiting the returned signed agreements.  A reminder was not yet needed as the funding had only just been allocated in March 2023.

The CIL Monitoring Officer asked the Panel to give consideration to the processes involved for the next funding round.  She explained that applications would be open from 1^st July to 1^st August.  The Panel considered how the funding available should be advertised and agreed that the same processes should be used as in the last round; the advertising be done two months in advance.  The Panel also considered the publicity of the scheme and agreed that the same process be used as in the last funding round.

The Panel discussed the Governance of the CIL Funding arrangements and if in the future it would be worth exploring the use of a Strategic Funding pot which could be used for larger projects.

AGREED: 1. The CIL Spending Panel agreed that the funding for North Runcton Flood Alleviation Work should be withdrawn as funding should not be awarded retrospectively.

2. Advertising and promotion of the next round should commence from 1^st May and the same targeted publicity be used as in the last round.