This report deals with the 15% of collected Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which should be allocated to the local area in which development takes place and proposes an allocation of local CIL collected up to 31 May 2024.

The Committee received a report on the proposed allocation of the 15% of local Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) collected up to 31st May 2024. The report also provided updates on progress with projects already allocated 15% local CIL funding.  The following documents were attached to the report:

·         Appendix 1: Equalities Impact Assessment

·         Appendix 2: Summary of assessment for each nominated project

·         Appendix 3: Project assessment forms for each nominated project

·         Appendix 4: Progress on projects previously associated 15% of local CIL funding

The report noted that the allocation of 15% local CIL totalling £4.519m had already been made towards 61 projects, progress of these projects were set out full in Appendix 4. The Council had continued to collect 15% local CIL Funds as a result of development taking place in Reading.  Up to 31 May 2024, a total of £6.036m had been collected.  After taking account of the allocations already made there was a total of £1.517m available for allocation as at 31 May 2024. A consultation was carried out on the priorities for use of these funds between February and April 2021, and results were reported in full to Policy Committee on 14 June 2021 (Minute 7 refers).  In total, there were 171 responses, and the priorities were as follows:

1.         Play areas and public open spaces

2.         Climate change and renewable energy

3.         Natural environment

4.         Highways, transport and travel

5.         General environmental enhancements

6.         Community centres and hubs

7.         Healthcare provision

8.         Education provision

9.         Heritage and cultural provision

The report explained that in advance of the allocation of funds for 2024-25, officers wrote to all Councillors on 3 October 2023 requesting nominations, with a deadline of 7 November 2023, for infrastructure projects relevant to their ward, and asking that Councillors make a single submission per ward if possible.  Officers from the relevant sections reviewed the projects and provided further information, including costing and delivery details wherever possible.  It was proposed that projects to receive 15% local CIL funds be selected from a list of nominated projects. There were 62 projects nominated which were set out in summary in Appendix 2 and in further detail in Appendix 3 to the report.  

The report also explained that due to the amount of projects that had been nominated that allocation of all 15% local CIL funds collected up to the end of May 2024 be allocated, as opposed to the funds collected up to the end of the previous financial year as would normally be the case under the CIL Spend Protocol.  This allowed for a larger range of projects to be allocated funds, and also reflected the fact that some of the projects were likely to take longer to deliver than a single financial year, so it would make sense to allocate the funds at this point. The proposed allocation of 15% of CIL funds collected up to 31 May 2024 of £1.498m for 31 projects, further details were provided in Appendix 3 to the report.

The report explained that proposed allocations would direct almost half of the funds towards the wards where by far the largest amount of development was taking place (Abbey and Thames, which together saw 56% of the recent or permitted new homes), whilst still ensuring that those parts of the Borough that also continued to see development taking place (the west, south, east and north) also received funds. The recommended projects would also be provided across a range of different priorities to ensure that there were no delivery issues caused by capacity within specific service areas. A mix of larger projects would be delivered with longer delivery timelines and with smaller projects that could often be delivered relatively quickly.

It was noted that the projects marked with asterisks in Table 1 of the report were grouped together as they all related to wider strategic objectives, these were *improvement of the relationship with Reading’s waterways, **town centre strategy implementation or ***promotion of active travel.

Information on the steps necessary for delivery of individual projects was set out in Appendix 3. In some cases, there was some additional project scoping work required, or there may be a need to go through additional steps such as consultation or a planning application, but in other cases delivery could start almost immediately and the report sought authority for the relevant Assistant Directors to complete necessary procurement processes to deliver the programme of work.

It was also noted that £0.025m had been allocated for the installation of additional river safety equipment along Thames Promenade and potentially more exit points.

Resolved –

(1)          That the following allocations of 15% local CIL collected up until 31 May 2024 be agreed, with a total allocation of £1.498m:

£0.015m to landscape the verge along the route in front of the Irish Club along Chatham Street

£0.020m to re-landscape the front garden of Somerstown Court

£0.050m for town centre tree planting

£0.020m for permanent planters on Oxford Road IDR over pass

£0.020m for Pocket Park biodiversity enhancement at Castle Hill roundabout (NW corner)

£0.020m for repair and cleaning and providing water to George Street allotments

£0.020m for planting green spaces in Battle ward

£0.075m for more greenery on the Oxford Road

£0.085m for zebra crossing on Portman Road opposite Milk & More

£0.008m for replacement of carpet on Kensington Park wicket

£0.040m for 20mph zone for the Amersham Road estate area

£0.050m for tree planting in Amersham Road and Westfield Recreation Ground

£0.040m for traffic and crossing measures in Caversham Heights

£0.100m for maintenance/refurbishment of Albert Road Park tennis courts

£0.050m for provision of graffiti resistant information boards within the Cowsey

£0.015m for replacement of outdated/broken community noticeboards in Katesgrove

£0.025m for removal of the priority flow feature at the junction of Allcroft Road and Redlands Road

£0.012m to amend the width restriction build-outs on Redlands Road to include cycle-through bypasses

£0.061m to add a non-turf cricket pitch and a two net training facility at Cintra Park

£0.001m for refurbishment of bench at the junction of Southcote Rd and Tilehurst Rd

£0.026m for Bath Road/Granville Road underpass enhancement

£0.020m to enhance the green in the Horncastle Conservation Area

£0.100m for improving the appearance of the public areas of the Orts Road Estate

£0.020m to create a biodiversity friendly setting along the Gunther’s Brook

£0.030m for water safety enhancements including at the Kennet river

£0.050m for installation of information board(s) and signage and improving pathway at Coley Water Meadows

£0.100m to clean and enhance the underpass from Katesgrove Lane to the County Lock and general enhancement of the area

£0.100m for infill footpath in Southcote Linear Park along the Holy Brook close to the allotments

£0.200m to repaint and resurface the footbridge over the Kennet between Kennet Walk and Avon Place

£0.025m for installation of additional river safety equipment along Thames Promenade and potentially more exit points

£0.100m for improvement of active travel connections to The River Academy

(2)          That the relevant Assistant Director be authorised to complete necessary procurement processes to deliver the programme of work;

(3)          That the relevant officers be authorised to give spend approval in accordance with the funds approved at (1) above, and that the relevant officers in consultation with the Lead Councillors for Planning and Assets and Corporate Services and Resources and the Director of Finance be authorised to approve any variation to the allocations above;

(4)          That progress on the projects already allocated 15% local CIL funds (Appendix 4 to the report) be noted.