The North Area Committee approved funding requests for the Barnet Elizabethans Rugby Football Club, Hadley Football Club, The Darlands Conservation Trust, and Oak Hill Parkrun. The committee also noted the latest updates to the Community Infrastructure Levy and Road Safety & Parking budgets.

Area Committee Funding - Barnet Elizabethans Rugby Football Club

The Committee approved a funding request of £92,543 for six new floodlights to illuminate one of the new sports pitches at the Barnet Elizabethans Rugby Football Club at Byng Road in High Barnet. This funding represents 28% of the cost of renewing the pitch, with the remaining 72% being funded by the club and the Barnet Recreational Trust. Councillor Emma Whysall spoke in favour of the application, which was made on her behalf by Rupert Long and John Harris, directors of the club. The committee added a condition requiring the club to provide annual updates demonstrating the community benefits outlined in the application.

Area Committee Funding - Hadley Football Club

The Committee approved a funding request of £45,000 for the construction of a new changing room building at Hadley Football Club. Councillor Paul Edwards spoke in favour of the application, which was made on his behalf by Steve Gray, chairman of the club. The committee attached conditions to the funding, including the provision of an annual update demonstrating community benefits and a business plan showing the club's financial sustainability.

Area Committee Funding - The Darlands Conservation Trust

The Committee approved a funding request of £90,000 for desilting the lake at The Darlands Nature Reserve. Councillor Caroline Stock and Councillor Val Duschinsky spoke in favour of the application. The Darlands Nature Reserve is managed by the Darlands Conservation Trust, of which Councillor Stock and Councillor Duschinsky are both trustees. The committee attached conditions to the funding, including the provision of an annual update demonstrating community benefits, a communications plan outlining the benefits of the works, and confirmation that all necessary consents have been obtained.

Area Committee Funding - Oak Hill Parkrun

The committee approved a funding request of £1,938.84 from the Oak Hill Parkrun¹ for equipment storage. Councillor Edith David spoke in favour of the application. The committee attached conditions to the funding including annual updates demonstrating the community benefits of the scheme, and requirements that Oak Hill Parkrun liaise with the council to purchase a suitable storage unit, install it in a suitable location, and obtain a license from the council for its use.

Area Committee Funding - Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Road Safety & Parking Update

The committee noted the latest position of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Road Safety & Parking budgets.

The Community Infrastructure Levy is a planning charge introduced by the Planning Act 2008, enabling local authorities in England and Wales to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects in their area. The funds raised through the levy can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure, such as transport improvements, new or safer road crossings, flood defences, schools, hospitals, and other community facilities.

A proportion of the funds raised through the levy is allocated to the Neighbourhood Portion of the levy and managed by Area Committees. The total budget available to the North Area Committee from the Neighbourhood Portion of the levy in 2024/25 is £553,742.

Councillor Alison Cornelius queried a number of specific points from the report:

• A request for an update on the progress of the refurbishment of the Tudor Park Pavilion, which was previously awarded £200,000 of CIL funding by the committee.
• A request that the information collected in surveys undertaken for a potential new pedestrian crossing on Totteridge Lane be shared with the Totteridge Ward Councillors.
• A request for further information about the proposals for Pollard Road. The committee asked a Highways Officer to provide a verbal update and to provide further detail at a future meeting.
• A clarification on whether excavation licenses had been achieved for tree planting on Mill Hill Broadway.