Purpose

Cabinet on 15th September 2026 considered a report detailing the new process of administering Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding. During considering the item, it was agreed that revision should be made to the policy and associated documents to address the following comments:

“Cabinet discussed the requirement in the NCIL policy for projects to be match funded. Following debate, it was agreed that match funding should be a preference rather than a requirement, and that where match funding was not part of the submission from applicants that sponsors should explain why that is not practicable. It was agreed that the NCIL Policy and associated documents should be updated accordingly using the delegated authority set out in recommendation 4. It was agreed that the consultation on the proposed updates should be in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition as well as those referred to in recommendation 4.”

Officers have subsequently updated the policy and associated documents and have consulted with the Leader, Leader of the Opposition, Legal, Finance and Governance and the final suite of documents are attached at Appendices A, B and C.  The updated documents also: clarify the role of the Area Committees in considering match funding; strengthen monitoring and reporting requirements; extend the application submission deadline from four to six weeks before the relevant Area Committee meeting; and expand information on the cross-ward application process.