CIL and Precept Monies Explained

Precept

The Precept is the council tax that the billing authority, in this case, Bath and North East Somerset (BANES), collects on behalf of a parish council. The precept is calculated as part of the parish council’s budget, filling the gap between the parish council’s planned expenditure and its estimated income. Parish councils do not receive any direct funding from central government and so the precept is a hugely important part of a parish council’s income.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

Under current planning rules when a new dwelling is built in our parish the developer must pay a levy to BANES, called the Community Infrastructure Levy (or “CIL”). The amount paid is linked to the floor area of the new buildings. BANES must give 25% of this levy to East Harptree Parish Council.

The council funds are then available to us as a community to address the demands that developments place on our parish, or by funding the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of parish infrastructure, such as the Victorian clock tower and provision of two defibrillators.

Our CIL Annual Report summarises what funds we have available and what we have spent money on to date.

As a community, we have five years to spend this money or it may have to be returned to BANES. Anybody can submit an application to the council to access these funds for a project within our parish.

How to make an application to East Harptree Parish Council for a grant of Community Infrastructure Levy funds

(1) Title of your project, the name of the organisation and contact details of those making the application.
(2) Provide a detailed summary of your proposals together with drawings/specifications and a timescale for the project.
(3) Provide detailed costings/sources of funds for the work and how much is required from CIL monies. Costings will ultimately need to be supported by 3 quotations. The EHPC has a legal duty to properly account for the expenditure of CIL monies and so quotations and detailed costings are required.
(4) Compliance with the CIL Regulations
Please identify if the proposal is in accordance with the CIL Regs by confirming if the project will meet the CIL Regulations (Reg 59C) to support the development of the East Harptree Parish area through:
A. the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; or,
B. anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area.
(4)(a) To meet Criteria A, please identify what infrastructure priority your project addresses, and how your project relates to the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of the proposed infrastructure.
(4)(b) To meet Criteria B, please identify what the demands are that development has placed on the local area that your project helps to address.
(5) If your project may give rise to ongoing maintenance obligations, please provide evidence of which legal entity will be accepting responsibility for this in the future.
(6) The Parish Council must endeavour to ensure that projects granted CIL funding have the broad support of the community. New applications pending a decision will be available for residents to scrutinise and we encourage, and will carefully consider, comments of support, or otherwise, from the community.  It would therefore be helpful if applicants provide some evidence that their application reflects the needs of the community.

The Parish Council may request further details before making a decision about the application. Additionally, because of the way the levy is received by the Parish Council which is related to the commencement dates for the developments it may not always be possible to fulfil applicants timescale requirements.
Applications should be made to the Parish Clerk.

New Applications Pending a Decision:

The Parish Council must endeavour to ensure that projects granted CIL funding have the broad support of the community. New applications pending a decision will be available for residents to scrutinise and we encourage, and will carefully consider, comments of support, or otherwise, from the community.  It would therefore be helpful if applicants provide some evidence that their application reflects the needs of the community.

Recent successful applications

Hearing loop repair £244

Arts Hub (match funding Arts Council grant) £3000

Two bleed kits (located at the Village Hall and Pavilion) £400

War memorial statues £291