Wembley reduced to 50% share of Neighbourhood CIL from 83% in new Cabinet proposals

EXISTING DISTRIBUTION

PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION

Widespread complaints about the unequal distribution of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy monies have resulted in a proposal going before the January 14th Cabinet that will reduce Wembley's share of Neighbourhood CIL from the present 83% to 50% of the total fund - that is a proposed total of £4.23m versus what would have been £7.06m using the existing distribution method.

Wembley retains the lion's share with other areas getting an equal share of the remainder but significantly more for the most part than they get now.  This is Option 4 in the table below:

 The report provides the following commentary on the options:

.        Option 1 (Retain existing distribution). This would be unpopular in light of the review. A significant number of the focus groups and interviews saw the distribution of NCIL funds and concentration of money in Wembley as unfair. Wembley stakeholders were keen to retain a significant sum of NCIL as they are impacted the most by development in the area. However, based on current and future projections, the gap in NCIL funds available to Wembley and the remaining four ClL neighbourhoods is set to increase. 


.        Option 2 (No distribution). NCIL receipts could be used anywhere across the borough. Bidders could propose projects to access funds irrespective of where the funds were generated. This would be easiest method of distribution and would allow equal access to

.        Option 2 could also help mitigate any impact felt by a different community beyond the NCIL boundary. However greater monitoring would still be required to ensure that one part of the borough was not disproportionately allocated funding. The disadvantages of this option are that the areas more greatly affected by development will lose out on the total value of NCIL receipts that would have been allocated if the existing distribution model were retained.

.        Option 3 (Equal Distribution). NCIL receipts would be redistributed equally across the five CIL Neighbourhoods. This would be appealing to areas that do not currently attract significant development. However this approach may disadvantage communities that are impacted most by development. 


.        Option 4 (Wembley 50% cap – other areas equal). Wembley’s NCIL fund would be capped at 50% of the total NCIL receipts generated in the borough. The remaining 50% would be divided equally between the remaining four CIL Neighbourhoods. This option would ensure that a greater proportion of NCIL Funds is allocated to the Wembley Neighbourhood where the majority of development currently takes place but also ensure that wider impacts of development are addressed elsewhere. 


.        Option 5 (Wembley 50% cap – other areas proportional). Wembley’s NCIL fund would be capped at 50% of the total NCIL receipts generated. The value of NCIL available in the remaining four CIL Neighbourhoods is set proportionally based on the amount of NCIL raised in their area. Based on current NCIL receipts the proportion would be Harlesden 41.86%, Kilburn 21.05%, Kingsbury 20.63% and Willesden 16.46%. This option would ensure that a greater proportion of CIL Funds is allocated to the Wembley Neighbourhood, however in the future, areas where there is less development will receive fewer NCIL funds. 


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Other proposed changes are minor and subject to change when a decision is made on ward boundaries except for a proposal to enlarge the decision making group evaluating proposals to four (Option 4):

Comments welcome.

Neighbourhood CIL consultation closes today with key information unavailable

Brent Council's Neighbourhood CIL consultation closes today without the publication of the results of the Round 2 of Neighbourhood CIL allocations.

Consultation should be based on the easy availability of information on the subject and so this non-publication undermines the credibility of the process. The delay in publication was blamed by Cllr Shama Tatler on one organisation not completing the final paper work although if some of the allocations are controversial non-publication may be convenient.

I have asked, without success, that the deadline be extended to allow for consideration of the outcome of Round 2 before completing the survey.

This is from Brent's email system:

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a planning charge, introduced by the Planning Act (2008) to provide a fair and transparent means for ensuring that any new planned development contributes to the cost of the surrounding infrastructure.

The Council must spend some CIL funds on priorities that are agreed in consultation with the local community. This is known as ‘Neighbourhood CIL’.  At least 15% of CIL funds will be spent on Neighbourhood projects, or at least 25% where there is an adopted Neighbourhood Plan, such as in Sudbury Town.

Brent’s Neighbourhood CIL Programme was launched in July 2017.  As it has now been in operation for almost one year, Brent Council would be keen to hear your views, learn about your experience of the programme and receive any suggestions for improvement through the survey below.

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/NeighbourhoodCILReview/

This survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.  If you have any questions or would like further information please do not hesitate to contact us via CILadmin@brent.gov.uk.

Brent's CIL information deficit

Given the controversy over the allocation of Brent's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) I have contacted Brent Council today over two issues.

Firstly the Cabinet will be discussing a review of the £17.8m allocated to Olympic Way public realm improvements, including the replacement of the Stadium pedway by steps, at their meeting on Monday. The review is in the light of the possible sale of the stadium. This is an enormous amoutn of money and of great public interest but there are no details on the Cabinet agenda - a report is promised but not yet published.  How can the public make any representations if there is no infomation available? The full agenda, including reports, should be available 5 working days bfore the meeting.  A similar issue arose with the first full meeting of the council.

Secondly there is currently a consultation on the Neighbourhood CIL underway. I have received several reminders about this and have responded asking for details of the second round of allocations - only round one is available in the council website. The council responded that there were last minute agreements to be signed off but the closing date of the consultation is now only a week away (see consultation notice below) - surely we need this information to provide a context to any consultation response.  Consultation without information is meaningless.

It would have been useful to have the information available before the local election as the Neighbourhood CIL is one of the few areas where the public and local councillors can have any influence.

I have asked for an extension to the consultation if the information is still not available.

Brent Council's message today:

The online survey for the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Review is open for just one more week. The survey will be closed on the 23^rd May 2018.

More information about the Community Infrastructure Levy in Brent can be found here and below.

This is your opportunity to tell us about your views, experiences and suggestions for the improvement.

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/NeighbourhoodCILReview/

The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.  If you have any questions or would like further information please do not hesitate to contact us via CILadmin@brent.gov.uk.

Apply for Neighbourhood CIL: Workshop 17th May, deadline 30th June

Via Brent Council

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a planning charge which enables financial contributions to be made towards the delivery of infrastructure in Brent. 15% of CIL receipts generated must also be spent on projects that meet priorities agreed in consultation with the local community. Brent Council is accepting applications for Neighbourhood CIL projects that improve the local area and mitigate the impact of development. Your project could benefit from share of approximately £4 million.

The closing date for applications is 30th June 2018. The application form and guidance can be found on the following Brent website: www.brent.gov.uk/cil (scroll down to ‘spending CIL’). If you have any questions about the application process, please email CILadmin@brent.gov.uk.

A training workshop will be held to support applicants:

·       17th May at 1.30-4.30 pm;

The workshop will take place at CVS Brent Training Suite, 7 Rutherford Way, Wembley HA9 0BP. Please ring at CVS Brent (5 Rutherford Way) if no one answers at the Training Suite.
Complimentary tea and coffee provided. 

To register for the May 17th workshop register HERE


Round 1 allocations HERE  I am waiting for details of Round 2.

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So where has Brent Council's CIL cash gone?

The £17.8m Community Infrastructure Levy allocated to infrastructure improvement by Brent Council to the area around the stadium, including the replacement of the ramp by steps, has rightly caused considerable controversy. 

Quintain's total CIL liability to date is  £31.8m of which £11.4m has been paid. Add in the £17.8m and there isn't a lot left.

Of the total CIL monies 85% is alllocated to major infrastructure projects and 15% to Neighbourhood Projects.

These are the allocations for Round 1 of the Neighbourhood CIL projects. Around £250,000 went to projects in the Wembley area (Click square on bottom right to enlarge):

Another round of applications closes in June 2018.

In addition  Quintain and its development partners Wates, McLaren, Jon Sisk and Son, McAleer and Rushe have set up the Wembley Community Fund for projects in Wembley Park and 'the surrounding area'. Grants are betweem £1,000 and £10,000.

These are its allocations so far:

Have your say on how Community Infrastructure Levy is spent in Brent

From Brent Council

Brent Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Priorities 2017-2020

Title of consultation

Brent Neighbourhood CIL Priorities 2017-2020

Who is consulting?

Planning Policy & Projects

Why are we consulting?

When developers receive planning permission for some larger, new developments, they're required to make a payment to the council. This helps fund local infrastructure improvements. This payment is called Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Of this, between 15-25% of the funds has to be allocated by the Council as Neighbourhood CIL.

On the basis of feedback received from this consultation, the council will decide how to prioritise spending on particular Neighbourhood CIL funded projects. These projects could be delivered by the council if they relate to council assets, e.g. a park. The council could also deliver projects that are good ideas, but where no other body came forward to deliver them. Alternatively, the council could allocate funds to local community groups where it believes that these groups can deliver the projects themselves.

To streamline the running of Neighbourhood CIL in the borough, Brent has been divided into five local areas: Harlesden, Kilburn, Kingsbury and Kenton, Wembley and Willesden. These are large enough to generate funds that can deliver relatively big projects if this is what the community decides the funds should be spent on. The areas are, however, also  small enough to encourage communities to feel they are likely to benefit from the projects that are delivered. Ultimately, the decision on what to spend the funds on still rests with the council, but we will provide clear feedback on how we have come to any decisions.

Links

Consultation

CIL Cabinet report

CIL appendix

Missing fortnight and missing documents twist in Kensal Rise Library saga

This is the notice of the Disposal of Land listed as an Asset of Community Value (Kensal Rise Library site).

It was only issued on November 27th, two weeks after Andrew Gillick, the current owner, informed Brent Council of his intentions, so there is some contention over the six week initial moratorium, starting from November 13th. Community interest groups have had public knowledge only from last Thursday.

The auction is to be held in just over two week's time on December 17th.

Meanwhile the  Communituy Infrastructure Levy Liability document and the Deed of Agreement  have not yet been uploaded to the Council's planning portal LINK

And, perhaps needless to say, no more has been heard into the police investigation into the alleged fake emails submitted to Brent Council in support of Andrew Gillick's initial planning application.