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Agenda item

WESTMINSTER CIL AND POOLED SECTION 106 FUNDING PROJECT ALLOCATIONS (Q4)

The report seeks to allocate funding of CIL to infrastructure projects to support growth in Westminster following receipt of monies from development. CIL governance and spending procedures continue to be developed and implemented using existing resources. A report from the Director of Policy, Performance and Communications.

Minutes:

4.1       The Committee considered the proposed expenditure for the Community Infrastructure Levy’s (CIL) strategic portion. Members sought confirmation that Network Rail was not subject to any liability in respect of the Charing Cross Station Gate Replacement project, which had been confirmed with the Director of City Highways. It was also queried why the Restoration of the ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’ project in Knightsbridge was listed both under the CIL’s strategic portion and under the Neighbourhood CIL portion.

 

4.2       In reply to issues raised by Members, Michael Clarkson (Principal Policy Officer) confirmed that Network Rail was not subject to any liability in respect of the Charing Cross Station Gate Replacement project. With regard to Restoration of the ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’ project, he advised that it was listed under both the CIL’s strategic portion and the Neighbourhood CIL portion because the project had applied for activities that qualified for both streams of funding.

 

4.3       On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman indicated his approval for all projects listed under the CIL’s strategic portion.

 

4.4       The Committee then considered proposals for expenditure under the pooled Section 106 contributions. Councillor Tim Mitchell referred to the Carbon Offset funds mentioned in the report and commented that it was anticipated that more projects of this type would be proposed as the fund had built up over time and this would provide an opportunity to use funds for a wide range of programmes and projects. In turn, he commented that paying into the carbon offset funds would likely become a more expensive option for developers and they would be encouraged to include offsetting measures on their sites.

 

4.5       The Committee then considered proposals for expenditure under the Neighbourhood CIL portion. Members commented that for projects recommended for in principle allocations, that it would be useful in future to specify what area the funds were coming from. Members commented on the increasing number of Neighbourhood Plan projects that were coming forward. In relation to the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan, it was suggested that areas like these may not require funding from this source as they would have access to other potential funding sources. Consideration as to what the formula is for allocating funds would need to be looked at more closely as more projects of this type were proposed and it was important that consistency was applied across the board. The Chairman advised that such matters would be considered under the CIL review. Councillor Mitchell advised that Councillor Heather Acton had indicated her support for The Bays London Street / South Wharf Road Public Realm, Burwood Place Greening, Connaught Village Green and Sussex Gardens / Edgware Road Junction Improvements projects in addition to the other Hyde Park Ward Members.

 

4.6       Members also welcomed the explanations given for Neighbourhood CIL proposals that were not recommended for approval.

 

4.7       RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet CIL Committee:

 

1.            Approved the expenditure of £11.089m from Westminster’s City CIL Strategic Portion as set out in Section 5.5 of this report and noted that this included the allocation of funding for the following projects as set out in Appendix B of the report.

(i)     All Stars Boxing Club – Community Mentoring and Sports

(ii)    Beachcroft AP School Open Space

(iii)   Charing Cross Station – Gate Replacement

(iv)   Charlbert Street Fountain Refurbishment

(v)    City-wide Cycle Parking

(vi)   Coventry Street and Haymarket Public Realm

(vii)Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure – Resident Charge Points

(viii)    Elizabeth Street Highway Improvements

(ix)   George Street and Thayer Street Public Realm

(x)    Gloucester Terrace/ Cleveland Terrace Junction Improvements

(xi)   Hallfield Community Primary School MUGA

(xii)Lock Bridge Refurbishment

(xiii)       Oxford Street District Zero Emission Street Cleansing

(xiv)       Paddington Recreation Ground Cycle Training Hub

(xv)    Parliament Street Pedestrian Subway Improvements

(xvi)       Queen’s Park Cycle Hire Stations

(xvii)     Restoration of the ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’, Knightsbridge

(xviii)    Smart Streets

(xix)       St. Marylebone Bridge Special School Seating

(xx)     St. Mary of the Angels School Sports Pitch

(xxi)       Sussex Street Play Area Refurbishment

(xxii)     Talbot Road/ Chepstow Road Pedestrian Improvements

(xxiii)    Tresham Centre Upgrade

(xxiv)    Warwick Avenue Bridge Refurbishment

(xxv)     Wilberforce Primary School – Building Refurbishment

(xxvi)    Wilberforce Primary School – Community Outdoor Pitch

 

2.            Approved the expenditure of £0.701m from pooled Section 106 contributions as set out in Section 6 of this report and noted that this included the allocation of funding for the following projects as set out in Appendix C of the report.

(i)     Healthy Workplace Award Programme

(ii)    Westminster Local Cost of Carbon Strategy

(iii)   Westminster Carbon Reduction Target

 

3.            Approved in principle the allocation of £0.731m from Westminster’s Neighbourhood CIL Portion as set out in Section 7.3 of this report and noted that this included the provisional allocation of funding for the following projects as set out in Appendix E of the report.

(i)            Market Place Community Garden and Public Realm

(ii)           West End Better Air Quality, More Recycling and Commercial Vehicle Reduction

(iii)          The Bays London Street/ South Wharf Road Public Realm

(iv)         Burwood Place Greening

(v)       Connaught Village Green

(vi)         Sussex Gardens/ Edgware Road Junction Improvements

(vii)        Restoration of the ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’, Knightsbridge

(viii)       Changing Lives, St. Marylebone Parish Church

(ix)         Shrewsbury Gardens Public Realm

(x)       Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan

(xi)         The Covent Garden Lighting Partnership

(xii)        The Northbank Low Emission Neighbourhood Street Greening

 

Reasons for Decision 

 

In order to ensure robust and effective expenditure and reporting in line with the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended) and in accordance with the Council’s strategic priorities, CIL spending policy statement and its framework for resource allocation and management.

Supporting documents: