Revised approach to allocating Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Receipts approved by Cabinet

Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet has approved a revised approach to allocating its portion of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Receipts.

Currently, the District Council uses an annual open bidding process to allocate its portion of CIL that must be spent on infrastructure that supports development. However, there are more strategic and proactive ways to allocate CIL receipts.

A proposal has been put forward to move from bid-led to evidence-led process of allocating this portion of receipts. This change, alongside the proposal to pause the annual cycle of CIL, will allow work to be focused on infrastructure, and CIL receipts to accrue ahead of implementation of new process.

This change in approach also coincides with the work on the South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP), which identifies a new spatial distribution of development. This will ensure that the proper infrastructure can be planned by the SWLP once the CIL receipts have been allocated. The portions of CIL allocations which go directly to Parish Councils will be unaffected by this change.

An Infrastructure Planning Officer Advisory Group will also be established to advise Cabinet on infrastructure planning and the allocation of CIL.

Cllr George Cowcher, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said: "The new approach to CIL allocation will ensure a better use of resources and will be linked with the important progress of the South Warwickshire Local Plan. It is essential that we ensure infrastructure providers and officers are communicating effectively and regularly, and this will be the role of the Advisory Group."