What is the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)?
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge on most new development within a local authority area. The money is used to pay for new infrastructure required as a result of this development. This infrastructure can be wide-ranging and includes schools, road schemes, health facilities and sports/leisure facilities.
Cheshire West and Chester Council can choose whether to charge CIL within its area and the levy is usually collected by them as the Local Planning Authority (known as the Charging Authority). The rate of CIL is set by the Charging Authority after consulting with the local community and developers.
Helsby Parish Council Share
Town and parish councils are entitled to a neighbourhood proportion of the CIL monies received by the Charging Authority. The amount received depends on whether the town or parish council has an adopted Neighbourhood Plan. As Helsby does have a Neighbourhood Plan, the parish council receives 25% of CIL receipts.
What can Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) be spent on?
CIL monies can be used to support the development of the local area to fund the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; or anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area.
“Infrastructure” includes physical, social and green infrastructure such as highways, cycleways, education facilities, sports and community halls and parks and play areas.
CIL monies cannot be used for everyday parish expenditure or for spending on items or services which fall outside the council’s remit.
Reporting Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) spend
Local councils have a legal duty to prepare an annual report of CIL received and spent in any financial year, including reporting on the following matters:
- Total CIL receipts for the reported year;
- Total CIL expenditure for the reported year;
- Summary of CIL expenditure during the reported year including the items and amounts of CIL expenditure on each item; and
- Spending deadlines.
The Charging Authority will pay out CIL monies collected to the parish council at regular intervals. The monies should be spent within 5 years of receipt. If they are not, or they are used inappropriately, then the Charging Authority can recover the monies.
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