Agenda item

The CIL Task Group meets regularly to consider bids received, and recommends successful bids to the Joint Committee for approval.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Joint Committee (Spelthorne) agreed that

(i)            Strategic CIL funding of £59,963.88 is agreed to Surrey Police towards an Electric Public Engagement Vehicle.

(ii)          Strategic CIL funding of £811,525.24 is agreed to the NHS towards Sunbury Health Centre subject to receiving reassurances in writing on additional clinical staffing and an outline for anticipated improvements for Health Centre users.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations require the Council to use CIL towards funding the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure required to support the development of its area. The above applications have been considered in the context of existing and upcoming development within Spelthorne. The above schemes meet the general criteria to be considered for CIL funding, and it is recommended funding is granted.

Declarations of Interest: Cllr Harvey declared a personal interest as Sunbury Health Centre is his local centre.

Officers attending: Joanna Ghazaleh, Infrastructure Delivery Coordinator, Spelthorne Borough Council 

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None

Member discussion – key points:

The officer outlined the two schemes under consideration.

If both bids were to be agreed, the remaining strategic CIL balance would be approximately £160k. It is important to remember that although funding commitments have been made, there are a number of large projects underway in the borough that will generate significant CIL receipts reckoned at £1m per year. Some bids will not be paid until the 2024/25 financial year so balance will be maintained.

Surrey Police – Public Engagement Van

Reassurance was given that the van would be exclusively for use in Spelthorne, and also that the sum requested would not change because of inflation. It was explained that if the applicant felt that prices had increased to a level that meant the requested amount would be insufficient, it would be necessary for them to submit a new and separate application.

The officer agreed to check on the following:

·         The expected date when the van would become operational (it was felt that the date shown in the report was a typing error).

·         Possible involvement by Borough Members in decisions on locations for the van’s deployment.

·         Outputs that were expected, such as prosecutions, following the introduction of the van.

·         KPIs used by other boroughs where similar vans have been introduced.

Sunbury NHS Centre

Ricky Ching and Mark Adams from NHS Property Services joined the meeting remotely.

This bid had been deferred from the Joint Committee’s meeting in July this year pending a review of the sustainable transport elements; these had now been removed, the reduced bid had been considered by the CIL Task Group and was now presented to the committee.

In response to questions raised by Members, Mr Ching and Mr Adams reiterated that the reason behind the planned expansion of the health centre was a projected increase in the local population, for which it was important to prepare proactively. The CIL bid would provide capital funding for new clinical rooms and further improvements to the existing building, and would be match-funded by the NHS. Local NHS Commissioners had agreed to fund costs of staff needed in the new rooms. The NHS constituted a known infrastructure requirement in the borough, with an acknowledged funding gap that would increase if new infrastructure was not provided.

Members expressed concerns about the funding of additional staff projected to fulfil the expected 480 new appointments each week that the extended health centre would offer. Stronger assurances were sought from the NHS that new staff would be adequately funded and would be available for face to face consultations with patients.

A revised recommendation was proposed by Cllr Evans and seconded by Cllr Mooney. Members voted to accept the revised wording, and agreed the new recommendation.

Resolved:

The Joint Committee (Spelthorne) agreed that

(i)            Strategic CIL funding of £59,963.88 is agreed to Surrey Police towards an Electric Public Engagement Vehicle.

(ii)           Strategic CIL funding of £811,525.24 is agreed to the NHS towards Sunbury Health Centre, subject to receiving reassurances in writing on additional clinical staffing and an outline for anticipated improvements for Health Centre users.

Reasons For Recommendations:

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations require the Council to use CIL towards funding the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure required to support the development of its area. The above applications have been considered in the context of existing and upcoming development within Spelthorne. The above schemes meet the general criteria to be considered for CIL funding, and it is recommended funding is granted.