Decision details

(Minute 27)

The report of the Projects and Business Manager was submitted, beginning the review of eligibility and evaluation criteria for the New Homes Bonus Local Infrastructure Fund.

Executive noted and supported the revised criteria recommended by the Major Grants and New Homes Bonus Panel in the following terms:

• Upper limit should remain as 20% of the fund for the year (and therefore currently £50,000 per application); in practice there is only £32,240 left for 2013/12
• Applications should be limited to one financial year at a time.
• Repeat bids for the same project should continue to be allowed, but continuing support for existing projects needs to be balanced with support for worthwhile new projects.
• Revenue bids should continue to be allowed, but only in exceptional circumstances and time limited (normally for one year only).
• Areas of the city with significant past or future growth will be favoured.
• Projects will be expected to secure significant funding from other sources.
• Joint projects will be favoured, for example whereby two or more organisations pool their resources to provide or improve a joint facility.
• County Council functions (e.g. highway works) will not be eligible. City Council functions (especially community facilities) will continue be eligible, although not normally for something that should be provided as part of ordinary service delivery.
• Projects for which a more suitable funding stream exists (eg. arts or rent grants) will not normally be eligible, regardless of whether money is actually available from that source.