Developers – small and large – have to pay Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charges on new houses they build – this is in addition to any Section 106 charges for specific requirements such as an increase in school places.
Across the county, this money is collected by Wiltshire Council, who keep five per cent of it towards their administration costs.
They pass on fifteen per cent to town and parish councils – rising to 25 per cent when there is a fully registered Neighbourhood Development Plan in place. Wiltshire Council can spend the rest on strategic infrastructure projects anywhere in the county.
At the full council meeting on Monday (July 23), councillors voted to pass £10,000 of CIL revenues to the Marlborough Tennis who are still in need of funds to complete their new courts beside Marlborough Golf Club.
This will be the first time the council have supported this scheme financially. Marlborough Tennis are raising funds for a list of projects – some of which are long-term and have not delayed the courts being used.
Their total costs for these purchases and works will be £29,460. They include an automatic system to allow for ‘Pay and Play’ entry, a leaf vacuum machine to clear courts, an upgrade to pathways and parking, a storage shed, heavy duty windbreaks, ground cover plants and seating benches. This CIL money will enable them to complete many of these.
So far the town’s CIL revenues for 2017-2018 have provided £19,384 towards the refurbishment of the Marlborough Community & Youth Centre and £19,384 towards the Coopers Meadow Play Area.
Councillors were told this would leave £35,000 still unallocated. CIL money can only be used on certain categories of capital costs.
The town council’s CIL receipts for 2017-2018 came from new houses at land adjoining Wakefield House in Cardigan Road, 44 George Lane, the Old Sales Room in Hillers Yard, three payments for the retirement apartments at Old Yard in London Road, two family homes at Longdon on the Bath Road and a first payment from Redrow Homes for the extensive Marleberg Grange development.
CIL revenues to the Town Council for 2017-2018 totalled £86,242. If the town’s Neighbourhood Plan had been in place, that revenue would have been nearly £144.000.
