Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) is one of the main ways residents can make positive changes in their neighbourhoods - although if the government gets its way it may soon be ended. In Brent it has often been underspent with insufficient numbers of projects coming forward for funding.
The Cabinet will consider reports at Monday's meeting on how it has been spent and the outcome of the consultation about priorities for the scheme.
The latter, worryingly, shows a very low response from young people, the very people most impacted by the closure of youth centres and the impending economic crisis - only 8% of responses were from those under 25 years old. The number of responses from ethnic minorities did not reflect their numbres in the population with for example only 3% of respondents self-defined as black in Willesden.
With 'Crime and Anti-social behaviour' and 'Education and Employment' scoring high in most areas there is clearly an urgent need to involve young people. Overall engaging with harder to reach groups has to be a priority if NCIL monies are to be spent to benefit the whole population.
It is worth considering any mismatch between 'Top Priorities' and 'Project Themes'.
The proportions varied between NCIL areas (wider than wards):
This document shows how the money has been spent across the borough and in each area:
The Cabinet will consider reports at Monday's meeting on how it has been spent and the outcome of the consultation about priorities for the scheme.
The latter, worryingly, shows a very low response from young people, the very people most impacted by the closure of youth centres and the impending economic crisis - only 8% of responses were from those under 25 years old. The number of responses from ethnic minorities did not reflect their numbres in the population with for example only 3% of respondents self-defined as black in Willesden.
With 'Crime and Anti-social behaviour' and 'Education and Employment' scoring high in most areas there is clearly an urgent need to involve young people. Overall engaging with harder to reach groups has to be a priority if NCIL monies are to be spent to benefit the whole population.
It is worth considering any mismatch between 'Top Priorities' and 'Project Themes'.
This document shows how the money has been spent across the borough and in each area:
