Issue - meetings

Community Infrastructure Levy - CIL Bid Recommendations

Purpose:

A multidisciplinary officer panel has reviewed the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding bids received in 2025 and made recommendations as to which bids should receive funding for the 2025 bid period. To ensure impartiality, Council officers were invited via email, the staff portal and staff newsletter to volunteer to take part in the panel, subject to a conflict-of-interest declaration. This report provides summaries of those bids and officer feedback. Its purpose is to ask the Cabinet to agree officer recommendations for funding relevant bids and refuse funding for bids which are not suitable for funding currently.

This is the second time since becoming a CIL charging authority in 2019 that the Council has received bids for funding. Upon receipt, a proportion of CIL goes direct to the district’s neighbourhoods (parish meetings/councils and town councils) and the remainder goes to the Council’s Strategic CIL fund. The bids subject of this report are requesting funding from the Strategic Fund. The amount of CIL funding bids for this year was greater than the amount of available funds in the CIL Strategic Fund.

The multidisciplinary officer panel has made its recommendations based on the statutory requirements for CIL spending in the CIL Regulations 2010 (as amended) and to ensure that CIL is spent:

· Legally

· Responsibly

· Strategically

· Accountably

Recommendations:

That Cabinet resolves to:

1. Agree to allocate funding for the following bids, as set out in Table 4:

a) Cycle parking Cotswold National Cycle Network (GCC with Walk Wheel Cycle Trust)

b) Farmor’s School 3G Pitch (Farmor’s School)

c) Redesdale Hall Phase 2 (Redesdale Hall Trust)

2. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director Planning Services in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing and Planning, to progress funding for approved bids in consultation with Legal Services and in line with the existing process.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of the report was to present officer recommendations on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding bids received in 2025 for approval by Cabinet.

Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, introduced the report and highlighted that a multidisciplinary panel had reviewed the bids, ensuring impartiality through voluntary participation and conflict-of-interest declarations. Cabinet approval was sought to fund suitable bids from the Strategic CIL Fund and refuse those deemed unsuitable. In line with statutory requirements the bids had been assessed within a framework to ensure that CIL was spent legally, responsibly, strategically, and accountably.

After discussion recommendation 2 was updated.

The recommendations were then proposed by Councillor Juliet Layton and seconded by Councillor Tristan Wilkinson.

Resolved that Cabinet:

1. Agreed to allocate funding for the following bids, as set out in Table 4:

a. Cycle parking Cotswold National Cycle Network (GCC with Walk Wheel Cycle Trust)

b. Farmor’s School 3G Pitch (Farmor’s School)

c. Redesdale Hall Phase 2 (Redesdale Hall Trust)

2. Delegated authority to the Assistant Director Planning Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, to progress the funding bids subject to the Assistant Director of Planning Services, Legal Services, and the Finance Service undertaking the required due diligence to ensure a formal agreement is in place prior to the release of funding in accordance with the CIL funding guidance notes.

Voting record:

7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to present officer recommendations on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding bids received in 2025 for approval by Cabinet.

Councillor Juliet Layton, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, introduced the report and highlighted that a multidisciplinary panel had reviewed the bids, ensuring impartiality through voluntary participation and conflict-of-interest declarations. Cabinet approval was sought to fund bids deemed suitable from the Strategic CIL Fund and to refuse those considered unsuitable. In line with statutory requirements the bids had been assessed within a framework to ensure that CIL was spent legally, responsibly, strategically, and accountably.

The approved bids included proposals for cycle parking along the Cotswold National Cycle Network , the Farmers’ School 3G pitch, and Redesdale Hall Phase 2. Officers highlighted that some questions in the assessment matrix were outdated, and a review of the CIL bidding process would be undertaken in the coming months to improve transparency, governance, and the framework for future rounds. Unsuccessful bidders could resubmit in the next round, scheduled for May.

Members were advised that, prior to the release of any funding, the Assistant Director of Planning Services, in consultation with Legal Services and Finance, would complete due diligence, including establishing legal agreements with clawback clauses, to ensure accountability, compliance, and proper use of funds. Recommendation 2 was updated following discussion to reflect this process.

Cabinet members highlighted the importance of aligning CIL-funded projects with broader strategic objectives. Emphasis was placed on sustainable transport infrastructure, particularly cycle paths linking residential areas with railway stations and key hubs, to support active travel and connectivity. Members noted that planning policy, developer contributions, the emerging Regulation 19 (Reg 19) Local Plan and the emerging Infrastructure Delivery Plan would guide delivery of future projects, and that high-level master planning would inform infrastructure requirements for new development sites.

Members also stressed the importance of transparent decision-making and engagement in the allocation process. It was noted that CIL funding was critical for delivering infrastructure that enhanced community well-being, including open space, community facilities, and sports facilities, and that improved governance arrangements would enable members to contribute to prioritisation and decision-making.

The amended recommendations were then proposed by Councillor Juliet Layton and seconded by Councillor Tristan Wilkinson.

The proposal was put to the vote and agreed by Cabinet.

Voting record:

7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

Issue - meetings

Community Infrastructure Levy - CIL Bid Recommendations

Meeting: 08/01/2026 - Cabinet (Item 190)

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