The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge that local authorities can set on new developments in their area. Its purpose is to raise funds for infrastructure needs in the area to support growth. The legislation which sets out how CIL is spent requires that a portion of the CIL income raised from development, within a charging authority area, is paid to the Town and Parish Council where the development has taken place.
CIL spending should be carried out by the Town Council within five years of receipt. Where money is not used to support development of the area within five years of receipt, or is used for other purposes, the regulations give charging authorities the power to recover those funds. This is to ensure that money is spent, and spent effectively, to benefit the local community.
CIL monies must be spent on: providing, replacing, improving, operating or maintaining infrastructure that supports development in the area; or anything else concerned with addressing the demands that development places on the area. Infrastructure includes: roads and other transport facilities; flood defences; schools and other education facilities; sporting and recreational facilities; open spaces; green infrastructure (may include tree or hedgerow planting).
In recent years the Town Council has received more than £26.5k of CIL money in relation to new developments in Bognor Regis. The funds are currently held by Bognor Regis Town Council and any expenditure will be reported in accordance with the regulations. CIL receipts for developments are expected for the next few years, but the exact amounts are not known until calculated by Arun District Council (ADC). Town and Parish Councils receive their CIL allocation from ADC twice a year, in April and October. Bognor Regis Town Council should mirror this and consider any CIL funding bid applications in May and November each year.
Community CIL project proposals Anyone in our community can put forward a CIL project proposal for us to consider adding to the Town Council’s CIL Spending List, as long as it meets the criteria. We welcome applications from: - local voluntary and community organisations; registered, exempt or excepted charities; charitable incorporated organisations (CIO); not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee - you must be a registered charity or have a not-for-profit 'asset lock' clause in your articles of association; a community interest company (CIC). The Council is unable to fund any political or religious organisations, or statutory bodies. Any capital spends (infrastructure) must be situated within the Parish of Bognor Regis.
We want to fund projects that work to make positive changes in our community. We want to support projects that involve people and communities from Bognor Regis from the start. So, it's important to us that you involve the community in the design, development and delivery of the activities you're planning. The Town Council’s Planning and Licensing Committee will periodically review the CIL Spending List following receipt of CIL funds and may resolve to award funding on the basis of current priorities and available funds. These meetings are open to the public; however, the Committee may move into confidential business if commercial sensitivity is required in order to achieve best value for public money. Inclusion on the CIL Spending List or meeting some or all of the criteria for CIL ranking, does not commit the Town Council to fund the project; all Council spending decisions are made by a majority vote.