Applications Invited for More Funds for Community Projects

Elmbridge Council had announced that the application process for the next round of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) community funding for local projects will open in January 2015.  The Council has opened the process up for longer this time in order to promote more widely and also allow applicants sufficient time to develop bids.

Applications can be received from the local community until March 31^st 2015 with Spending Boards taking  place in June or July 2015. In advance of the Spending Boards all eligible applications will be subject to a 4 week consultation period in order to receive community feedback to inform the Board meetings.   Application forms are available for download on the Bidding for Local CIL funds webpage.

Successful community applications in 2014 included projects such as improvements to community facilities, countryside access improvements and enhancement of sporting facilities.

The Council is passing 25% of CIL funds to local communities to fund local infrastructure projects in their area.  The Council has formed new Local Infrastructure Spending Boards, including one for East and West Molesey.  At these meetings Ward Councillors will decide on how the 25% of CIL funds will be allocated.  CIL is only collected once a development has commenced and payments are staggered. Local CIL funds currently available for each area are shown in the table below:

Settlement area	CIL funds available
Walton on Thames	£148,936
Weybridge	£72,975
Hersham	£36,657
East and West Molesey	£40,592
Thames Ditton, Long Ditton and Weston Green	£24,125
Esher	£30,025
Claygate	£4,453
Cobham, Oxshott, Stoke D’Abernon and Downside	£142,953

Strategic infrastructure

The remaining 75% of CIL funds collected will be used to fund or part fund strategic infrastructure across the Borough. Applications for Strategic CIL funds can be submitted between February – April 2015. The next meeting of the Strategic Spending Board will be in June 2015.

You can obtain more information from the Elmbridge Council website here:  http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning/policy/funding.htm

If you would like to discuss any projects you have in mind feel free to contact one of your Molesey Residents Association Councillors.

Published on Sunday, January 11th, 2015
in General Interest