St James Infrastructure Improvement Programme
2023 – 2025
Parish Meetings can raise funds for infrastructure projects several ways: precept allocations, councillor locality funding, external grants, and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The CIL is a charge on new development, introduced by the Planning Act 2008, for local authorities to raise money for projects in areas where development is taking place. These can include
- Physical infrastructure e.g. highways, transport links, energy supply, water, flood alleviation, waste management
- Social infrastructure e.g. education, health, social care, art and culture, sports facilities, community halls
- Green infrastructure e.g. parks, woodlands, play areas, public open space
By 2023, St James Parish had accumulated CIL funds held on our behalf by East Suffolk Council (ESC). Your Parish Meeting Committee thought this moderate amount could be used to improve aspects of some village facilities. We needed to provide ESC with a detailed programme built in consultation with, and supported by, residents. During the year we collected views and ideas from around the village and its several organisations, and from others who visit to use our facilities. The main proposals were:
- Build a village-wide website: information about the village, its history, the Parish Meeting, the Orchard, the Hall, the Church, events & facilities,
- Improve the area in front of the Village Hall: refurbish the phone kiosk, clear up and make safe the pump area, and landscape the area
- Provide external utility from the Hall for events and activities
- Renew or add Village Orchard benches, refurbish the Orchard Hut entrance
- Provide additional benches, planting and amenities for the Village Green
- Improve and repair information services: direction and safety signs and displays
ESC also needed evidence of the parish’s support and agreement. The Parish Meeting Committee discussed the proposals at length and agreed and minuted its approval unanimously. The Hall committee had significant input, agreed and minuted its approval, as did the Orchard committee. All three bodies also agreed to provide supplementary funding in support, which carried weight with ESC.
In May 2024 the Parish Meeting unanimously approved the programme and agreed its financial support. The application was submitted to East Suffolk Council which approved the application in July 2024. Work on the projects is under way.
"I am writing to advise that the
CIL Spending Working Group (CSWG)
have …. considered your application
for release of CIL money, held …
on behalf of South Elmham St James
Parish Meeting. I am pleased to confirm
that Members have voted in support of
the application, and the [funds] held
can be released to fund the project
as detailed within the application."
9 July 2024