Community Infrastructure Board, 25 November 2024

Cllrs Read and Stockdale declared an interest in the WI Hall as the Council's nominated representative. Cllr Cummings declared an interest in that he had assisted with the project costings; he also declared a personal interest with Hever School and said he would not vote.

Resolved: that the minutes of the CIL Board meeting held on 04 March 2024, be duly signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record of the meeting (40/1-2).

Members noted the annual return to SDC had been completed and submitted within the time frame allowed; and was published on the website. Summary for 2023-24: year-end balance £145,993.61 (CIL receipts); plus interest since 2019 £10,099.94. Total income receipt were £15,353.01; total CIL awards/expenditure £148,243.28. There were no questions.

Members noted the current CIL position (up to November 2024):

Total receipts received: £87,225.09 (from Skeynes Road; Wheatsheaf; King & Queen; Apex House). Total interest: £4977.77. Total CIL awards paid out: £71,845.59. Balance of funds £176,450.82 of which £55,076 was allocated to other approved awards;
unallocated CIL funds £121,374.45. SDC CIL portal indicates one further payment expected £49.81 (October to March 2025). There were no questions.

Members noted the following:

Awards waiting to claim update:

Edenbridge Town Council: Promotional Infrastructure for Visit Edenbridge – balance £9890 (resolution February 2020 5.3 £12k). Outstanding was the walks app/GPS and reproducing the walks leaflets which was in the process having the 10 walks data and GPS co-ordinates converted in to a readable format for the new leaflets. A graphic designer had been engaged. Next will be printing and transferring data to suitable Walks App.

Edenbridge Town Council: Contribution towards Electric Car Charging Points via KSTS for Edenbridge – £7,500 (October 2021 7.2.). Four EVCs have been installed MYCP.

Edenbridge Rugby Club – Pavilion Refurbishment – £8,275 (resolution February 2022 5.2.). Details of the refurbishment schedule and works yet to be finalised to the Council, and claim by the Club to be made.

Recent claims:

Edenbridge Medical Centre: Moving to the new building, costs for new clinical couches and other associated costs. Total funding £25k, paid in two amounts.
Friends of Hever Primary School – Hever School Sports Pitch/Playground Improvements – £3,000. Claimed September 2024.

Projects with surplus remaining:

Edenbridge Town Council: Recreation Ground (Lingfield Road) Sports Pavilion windows replacement with shutters – £85,000. Works completed July 2024; total spend £62,429.15. Members unanimously,

Resolved: to confirm releasing the unspent funds of £22,570.85 back in to unallocated CIL funds.

Edenbridge Town Council: Road Safety measure – Main Road, Hilders Lane and Hillcrest Road junction – balance £4980.57. This award for the 40mph buffer zone at Main Road which is now completed. The white gates on the entry to Edenbridge has now confirmed one white gate for this location with some funding secured through the Kent County Councillor Margot McArthur's Members Fund, with the shortfall is £2858.12 (total cost is £3551.71). Members unanimously,

Resolved: to confirm the release of £2858.12 towards the Main Road white gate, and to release the balance of £2122.45 to unallocated CIL.

The Recreation Ground Playground project had £1859.95 which could be returned to unallocated. Members unanimously,

Resolved: to confirm release of £1859.95 to unallocated CIL funds.

Representations were received from the bidders for each bid. Members discussed each application in the order as listed on the agenda before voting on each.

Members noted the one application received, but at this stage, it did not pass the validation stage.

A representative from Hever PTA provided a presentation on it plans to transform a muddy, unused area of the playground into an outdoor classroom and well-being space to be used for learning as well as a sensory/breakout area for our SEN children. This would have a huge impact on children's education and social skills as well as benefit their mental health. The school was looking to raise £19,800 and requesting an award of £10,000. Of the 159 students in the school, 149 of these were Edenbridge residents. 

Members supported the bid to provide a new and improved sports playing surface area:

• There was clear evidence that the majority children attending the school were Edenbridge residents, and that this was the result of the demands from increased development and the need for educational facilities
• There were strong social and well-being benefits to the children
• Would provide an infrastructure improvement for education and school facility, for Edenbridge children
• It meets both regulation 8, 59C (a) provision of infrastructure, and (b) addresses the demand from development in the area

Resolved: to award Friends of Hever Primary School £10,000 towards its new outdoor classroom and wellbeing space project. Payment would be made once work had started and upon receipt of an invoice in the name of the Friends of Hever Primary School for the purchase of the items and installation.

A presentation was received on the need and work required to replace the floor and support structure in the kitchen at the Paulinus Centre in Marlpit Hill following increasing problems caused by deterioration the woodwork. The projects was costed at £13,500 plus vat and was requesting an award of £6,000.

Members supported the bid to provide new kitchen flooring:

• St Paulinus Centre is a well-used community facility; with increased development also increases the use and demand on the facility
• The kitchen floor replacement and structure repairs was necessary maintenance to the infrastructure facilities, and increasing users of public facilities
• There was strong evidence for economic and social benefits
• It meets both regulation 8, 59C (a) refurbishment/maintenance of infrastructure, and (b) addresses the demand from development in the area

Resolved: to award Parochial Church Council of Edenbridge for St Paulinus Centre £6,000 for the kitchen floor support structure and floor replacement . Payment would be made once work had started and upon receipt of an invoice in the name of the Parochial Church Council of Edenbridge for St Paulinus Centre kitchen flooring works.

The Bid was presented summarising the issues with the main hall flooring and the essential repairs to the sprung floor to replace the rotted support joists and the replacement of part of the flooring. It had not been possible to assess if the issues had affected a wider area, this would be known following the identified section repairs (it was hoped not to have spread further). The project was costed at £12,960 with a request for £7,960.

Members supported the bid to enable the repairs to the main hall flooring:

• The WI Hall was a well-used community facility; and with increased development, increases the use and demand on the facility
• The infrastructure improvement meets the development needs to provide a better community facility for Edenbridge
• Evidenced strong social benefits
• Evidenced strong economic benefit with modern lighting
• It meets both regulation 8, 59C (a) maintenance of infrastructure, and (b) addresses the demand from development in the area

Resolved: to award WI Hall (Edenbridge Town Village Hall Charity) £7,960 for the main hall flooring repairs. Payment would be made once work had started and upon receipt of an invoice in the name of the Edenbridge Town Village Hall Charity for the hall flooring works.