Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Item Called In

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: February 4, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Decision   For the reasons set out in the report and its appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree:   i)  To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adults & Health in consultation with the Lead Member for Resident Engagement and Resident Experience for the programme and the dispersal of funding. ii)  To continue the delivery of People Powered Places over a two-year cycle. The first year will focus on community deliberation, project applications and participatory budgeting. The second year will focus on project delivery and evaluation. iii)  To allocate each of the eight community neighbourhoods a further £200,000 over two years for projects in their area to be chosen through People Powered Places, totalling £1.6 million of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy funding for April 2025 to March 2027. iv)  To agree that any under-allocations and funds unspent from the 2023-25 cycle to roll-over to the 2025-27 cycle. The current underspend forecast is £69,646.52. v)  To approve the key recommendations for the programme in section 4 – Proposals, in this paper based on our internal evaluation programme engaging 1,096 residents and stakeholders across the 2023/25 cycle.   Alternatives Considered   a)  Regulation 59F of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations 2010 establishes the legal framework for neighbourhood CIL funds. Newham Council allocates 20% of the collected funds as neighbourhood CIL, with 75% designated for local projects and 25% directed towards infrastructure, as outlined in Regulation 59. b)  The People Powered Places (PPP) programme meets the government’s requirement for meaningful community engagement regarding the expenditure of these funds. Without PPP, the Council would need to invest resources to develop an alternative method for involving communities in prioritising projects and addressing local needs. A One-Council approach has not meaningfully considered an alternative to PPP.