The Transformation and Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Shropshire Council was scheduled to consider a report from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Task and Finish Group, focusing on CIL allocations. The committee was also due to review proposals for its work programme for the upcoming year.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Task and Finish Group Report

The committee was scheduled to consider the first phase of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Task and Finish Group's work, which focused on CIL allocations. The report detailed the group's investigations into CIL processes, governance, and member involvement, aiming to ensure that funds collected from developers are effectively used to support local and strategic infrastructure needs.

The Task and Finish Group's objectives included making recommendations on the allocation process and the role of elected members, reviewing the suitability of the 90/10 split between CIL Local and CIL Strategic funds, and examining the criteria and timing of member involvement and awareness of funding decisions. They also considered transparency, communication, and access for town and parish councils to apply for CIL funding.

The report outlined several recommendations:

• Revision of the 90/10 split: The group recommended consideration of revising the split between CIL Local and CIL Strategic funds, acknowledging that a final decision might be better placed with the Cabinet due to the need for further information and the fluid nature of local service demands.
• Annual CIL Strategy: It was recommended that an annual strategy document for the overall direction and prioritisation of CIL Strategic and CIL Local money be developed by Cabinet and agreed by Council, to be implemented by officers through the Internal Infrastructure Group (IIG).
• Internal Infrastructure Group (IIG): The report suggested that Cabinet review the decision-making structure of the IIG to allow for more member insight. Recommendations included inviting Cabinet and Portfolio Holders to observe IIG meetings, routinely sharing IIG reports and minutes with them, and ensuring IIG meeting minutes are formal, standardised, and shared with affected local members. Reporting should also include outcomes of previous CIL-funded projects and unsuccessful applications. A regular CIL spending report to the relevant Scrutiny Committee was also proposed.
• Alternative Models: The Task and Finish Group expressed admiration for the Cornwall model's methods of determination, member involvement, and allocation, favouring its community-led approach. They were not in favour of the Cheshire East model due to its limited community involvement. The recommendation was for Cabinet to explore the Cornwall model in more detail for potential application in Shropshire.
• Town and Parish Council Communication and Awareness: The report recommended ongoing and regular communication and guidance on CIL to Town and Parish Councils through Clerks Networks and the Shropshire Association of Local Councils (SALC). This included exploring CIL training events and increased promotion through digital media. The Shropshire Council website's planning pages should also be updated to include signposting to CIL, clarification of application processes, and information on successful projects. Options for a member dashboard or BOT specifically for town and parishes were also suggested.
• Member Communication and Awareness: It was proposed that a button be added to the Member Gateway providing access to up-to-date CIL spend data, including application progress, completion, timescales, and outcomes. A document on the planning portal showing how CIL money has been used was also suggested.
• Resident Communication and Awareness: The report recommended enhancing communication to residents by highlighting tangible benefits from CIL-funded developments and increasing resident understanding through publicising completed projects. Community groups' understanding of CIL, how to apply, and making it accessible through digital means was also highlighted.
• Community-led boards: A recommendation was made for the Transformation and Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee to explore how the management and administration of CIL Local might be undertaken by Member-led Community Boards, with officer support. These boards could operate on a multi-divisional or multi-ward basis.

The report also detailed the financial implications of CIL, noting that the purchasing power of unspent CIL funds can decrease over time due to inflation. It was clarified that interest earned on CIL funds is pooled with other Council investments and supports the general revenue budget. The report also touched upon climate change appraisal, noting how CIL contributions can be used to mitigate development impacts, including climate-related effects.

The Task and Finish Group's investigations included discussions with Shropshire Council officers, Portfolio Holders, representatives from Town and Parish Councils, and planning officers from Cornwall and Cheshire East Councils. The report provided a comparison of CIL approaches in Shropshire, Cornwall, and Cheshire East, highlighting differences in funding priorities, governance, and community involvement.

Work Programme

The committee was also scheduled to consider proposals for its work programme for the 2025-2026 period. This included reviewing the Financial Monitoring Report for Quarter 3 2025/26, the Financial Strategy 2026/27 - 2030/31, and Fees and Charges for 2026/27, which had been discussed at the previous meeting on 9 February 2026. Future agenda items for the committee were also outlined, including Performance Monitoring Reports and Financial Outturn reports. Other identified areas of interest for future scrutiny included the North-West Relief Road, Devolution, Finance Scrutiny, and the Financial and Performance Monitoring of Adults and Children's services.