CIL

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) represents an opportunity for Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) to invest in projects that will improve the lives of Kenilworth residents in the short and longer terms. Funds will be available over the next 5-10 years that the Council can directly invest in Kenilworth. CIL funding is received twice a year by the council and is subject to a number of variables. Applications will only be considered if the council has sufficient funds available.

About CIL

The CIL is a charge that is levied by local authorities on new development in their area. The levy can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure, including transport, flood defences, schools, hospitals, and other health and social care facilities.

KTC will prioritise projects based on the following:

Ethical priorities

Projects fitting with priorities determined by the community of Kenilworth through consultation;
Capital projects that will benefit the community as a whole – ‘the common good’;
Projects that involve young people and their future.

Strategic priorities

Long-term investment in infrastructure over any other expenditure;
Promoting Kenilworth as a business and tourist destination;
Addressing demands imposed by the increase in population in the town;
Supporting KTC initiatives (e.g. Cycling Strategy Group, Tourism Group, the Town Centre Working Group, and Climate Emergency Roadmap).

Recent CIL projects have included a contribution of £135,000 towards the renovation and extension of Talisman Theatre, £27,500 for the Clarkes Avenue bridge extension, £5,000 for a new skatepark design at Castle Farm and £184,565.59 towards Kenilworth School’s community/school hall development plus many more. Full details of all CIL Grants that have been awarded can be found by clicking the link under ‘Funded Projects’ on the right hand side of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)?

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge that is levied by local authorities on new development in their area. It is an important tool for local authorities to use to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area. Warwick District Council (WDC) will provide these funds for Kenilworth Town Council to invest.

How can CIL funds be used?

The levy can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure projects, including transport, flood defences, schools, hospitals, and other health and social care facilities. This definition allows the levy to be used to fund a broad range of facilities such as play areas, open spaces, parks and green spaces, cultural and sports facilities, healthcare facilities, academies and free schools, district heating schemes, police stations and other community safety facilities. However, all projects must:
• Meet the terms of the CIL Regulations (2010) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/community-infrastructure-levy)
• Reflect the priorities of the Council and Neighbourhood
• Have community backing (for example via a Neighbourhood Plan)
• Support, or mitigate the impact of development in an area
• Be a one-off project (or identify and agree longer-term revenue implications)
• Benefit the broadest section of the community
• Provide value for money

Where does the money come from?

Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) receives 25% of the total levy received by Warwick District Council (WDC) for chargeable developments within the area of the town council. The funds received by KTC must be spent to support the development of the town council’s area “by funding the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; or anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on the area”.

Refer to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/community-infrastructure-levy#spending-the-levy for full details.

When will the Town Council receive CIL monies?

CIL payments to Councils like KTC are paid twice a year for the preceding 6 months’ income. CIL income received between 1st April and 30th September will be paid by 28th October and CIL income received between 1st October and 31st March will be paid by 28th April. Payments are calculated on 31st March and 30th September based on projects submitted and can only include monies from CIL contributions that have been made by any linked developer and are confirmed as deposited in WDC’s bank account.

How much money has already been invested?

As of January 2024, Kenilworth Town Council has received over £584,000 to invest and has committed nearly £470,000 of this to local community projects. Payments are received every 6 months as part of the rolling programme. The latest payment received in October 2023 was just under £105,000.

How will Kenilworth Town Council decide which projects to invest in?

KTC will prioritise projects based on the following:

Ethical priorities

Projects fitting with priorities determined by the community of Kenilworth through consultation;
Capital projects that will benefit the community as a whole – ‘the common good’;
Projects that involve young people and their future.

Strategic priorities

Long-term investment in infrastructure over any other expenditure;
Promoting Kenilworth as a business and tourist destination;
Addressing demands imposed by the increase in population in the town;
Supporting KTC initiatives (e.g. Cycling Strategy Group, Tourism Group, the Town Centre Working Group, and Climate Emergency Roadmap).

How will Kenilworth Town Council identify potential projects?

KTC will continue to consult with the local community to develop a list of the infrastructure priorities in the area. The Neighbourhood plan (2018) gave us a great starting point and further surveys during 2021 helped us to prioritise which areas, themes and issues residents and business owners will value most highly.

If you have a project or initiative that falls within our remit for funding, please submit an application by downloading and completing the application form below.

Download CIL Application Form

How will Kenilworth Town Council manage the monies to invest in projects under CIL?

In managing CIL expenditures, KTC will be guided by Warwick District Council’s (WDC) legal agreements and procurement procedures. On receipt of CIL payments, funds will be moved immediately to an earmarked reserve account (EMR).

Each determined tranche of CIL spend will require a legal agreement to be signed by the recipients, KTC and WDC in order for funds to be released to deliver the project.

KTC will consider any money allocated to a project to have been spent in terms of the 5-year spending time limit placed upon them. If a project runs over time KTC will expect WDC to allow KTC to honour the contracts entered into and not to recall the funds.

KTC will report to Warwick District Council, the “Charging” Authority, annually the CIL money spent and allocated to approved projects. The information will also be reported on the KTC website.

If KTC has no prospect of spending CIL money that has only one year left of the five-year period it will consider spending it on WDC’s Regulation 123 list (IFS) of projects.