The Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) of Huntingdonshire District Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, to discuss the Community Infrastructure Levy funding, the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme, and outstanding responses from previous meetings. The panel will be invited to comment on officer recommendations from the Community Infrastructure Levy Spend Allocation Cabinet report.

Community Infrastructure Levy Funding

The Overview and Scrutiny Panel is invited to comment on officer recommendations regarding the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) spend allocation. The Community Infrastructure Levy is a planning charge that allows local authorities in England and Wales to collect funds from developers to help deliver infrastructure needed to support development in their area¹. The Cabinet is recommended to:

• Note updates on projects previously allocated CIL funding.
• Note any new allocated CIL projects for £100,000.00 or less approved by delegation on 3rd October 2025.
• Agree officer recommendations to approve funding for the Huntingdon Campus Skills training facility.
  • The proposal is to create a training centre at Huntingdon Campus to provide for retro fit skills, including solar panel installation, various insulation techniques, heat pump installation and associated electrical skills.
  • The applicant is Cambridge Regional College.
• Agree officer recommendations to decline funding for Warner's Park Pavilion, St Ives extension and refurbishment.
  • The applicant is St Ives Town Council.
• Agree officer recommendations to approve a lesser amount of funding for Kimbolton and Stonely Playgrounds.
  • The applicant is Kimbolton and Stonely Parish Council.
• Agree officer recommendations to approve funding for HDC One Leisure St Ives for a new 3G Pitch.
• Agree officer recommendation to approve funding for the Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon expansion project.
• Agree officer recommendation to approve funding for King George V Pavilion, Huntingdon redevelopment.

The report notes that there is circa £35m of CIL receipts currently available for allocation on further infrastructure projects.

The report also details the interim governance of the CIL, stating that a funding enquiry form was launched online in May 2025 and promoted to town/parish councils and members. Applicants were encouraged to submit this form before completing an application to support any applications and prevent anyone completing an application for an ineligible project.

Huntingdon Campus 'Retrofit' Skills Training Facility

Cambridge Regional College has applied for £200,000 of CIL funding towards a total project cost of £725,912 to create a training centre at Huntingdon Campus to provide for retrofit skills. The report states that the new centre would repurpose an existing building, including installing bays which mirror working environments to enable students to learn and develop their skills.

The report notes that the HDC Economic Development team were consulted on this proposal and offered their support, stating:

From an Economic Development perspective, we are pleased to offer our support for this funding application. The proposed training facility will meet key objectives of the Huntingdonshire Economic Growth Strategy, which emphasises fostering economic prosperity, supporting local businesses, and creating employment opportunities.

St Ives Warner's Park Pavilion

St Ives Town Council has applied for £160,000 of CIL funding towards a total project cost of £177,399 to extend and refurbish Warner's Park pavilion in St Ives. The project would include a new front extension, relocation of the kitchen, installation of externally accessible public toilets, and refurbishment of the interior.

The report recommends declining the application, stating:

The supporting information for this project does not clearly evidence the links to the need and growth. Nothing confirms who would use the improved space, any bookings being turned away at existing facilities or support for it. The consultation with the community seems to date from 2019 and was not included either.

Kimbolton and Stonely Playgrounds

Kimbolton and Stonely Parish Council has applied for £118,517.66 of CIL funding towards a total project cost of £163,360.66 for improvements to play facilities in Kimbolton through the full renovation of the existing playground and the creation of a brand new additional play area in Stonely.

The report recommends approving a lesser amount of £61,632.81, stating:

Two play areas so close together for a population of 250 under 15 is ambitious, with Stonely having only 15 children under the age of 15 in 2021, according to data from City Population (based on ONS). As such the Officer recommends reducing the amount of CIL offered and to focus on renewing the equipment on the main Kimbolton site, which would also be accessible to Stonely residents.

New 3G Pitch, HDC One Leisure St Ives

Huntingdonshire District Council has applied for £300,000 of CIL funding towards a total project cost of £1,400,031.26 for the installation of a second full-size third generation floodlit artificial turf pitch at One Leisure, St Ives.

The report recommends approving the application, stating:

This is a well written submission with a lot of evidential information submitted. There is very good evidence of partnership working with National partners like Sports England, and local communities.

Cromwell Museum Expansion Project, Huntingdon

The Cromwell Museum has applied for £1,000,000 of CIL funding towards a total project cost of £6,308,000 for funding to restore, convert and fit out a new museum.

The report recommends approving the application, stating:

This project has strong links to the strategic corporate policy of town centre regeneration. The evidence supplied shows how the museum would become the cultural focus for the town and should bring in more footfall. Figures provided in the supporting information estimate the new museum location could boost the local economy by £1,000,000.00.

King George V Pavilion Redevelopment, Huntingdon

Huntingdon Town Council has applied for £125,000 of CIL funding towards a total project cost of £1,000,000 for a project to demolish the existing structure and build a new pavilion with compliant changing rooms, modern support facilities, social space and equipment storage at King George V Playing Fields.

The report recommends approving the application, stating:

The loss of a cricket provision would be detrimental to the district. This project is good value for money as it is a 13% CIL ask and rather than previous submissions this project is focused on cricket rather than wider functions.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme

The Panel are scheduled to receive the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and the notices of Key Executive decisions from 1 October 2025 to 31 January 2026. Members are also scheduled to discuss future planning of items for the Work Programme.

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2025-26 includes forward agendas for the Performance and Growth panel, and the Environment, Communities and Partnerships panel.

The Performance and Growth forward agenda includes:

• Community Infrastructure Levy Funding (8th October 2025)
• Corporate Performance Report 2025/26 (Quarter 2) (5th November 2025)
• Treasury Management 6 Month Performance Review (5th November 2025)
• Corporate Peer Challenge Update 2025/26 Q2 (5th November 2025)
• Transformation Report (5th November 2025)
• Performance Quality Framework (3rd December 2025)

The Environment, Communities and Partnerships forward agenda includes:

• Huntingdon Sport and Health Hub – RIBA Stage 2 (Private) (14th October 2025)
• A Sustainable Framework for Play in Huntingdonshire (6th November 2025)
• Council Tax Support 2026/27 (6th November 2025)
• Council Tax Premiums Policy (4th December 2025)

Outstanding Responses From Previous Meetings

The Panel is scheduled to note the responses outstanding from previous meetings.