How we spend CIL - Strategic funding

Information

'Strategic' CIL monies can be spent anywhere in the borough, regardless of which area they came from. The Borough Council is responsible for deciding what strategic projects are funded from CIL monies.

A large amount of the CIL money we collect will be saved up to fund expensive schemes, like new leisure centres. However, each year, we will set aside up to £200,000 to fund smaller infrastructure projects (those individual projects each costing £100,000 or less). Suitable projects are identified through our annual CIL Funding Programme.

The CIL Funding Programme sets out how we could spend strategic CIL monies in the next financial year and recommends a number of projects for consideration.

How do we decide which projects receive strategic funding?

We manage an Infrastructure Delivery Schedule (IDS) which lists all those projects identified as being necessary to support the delivery of the Local Plan. Officers assess all the projects on the IDS, against a set of criteria, to prepare a shortlist of projects we could recommend for funding.

Each year, we prepare a document called the CIL Funding Programme (CFP). The CFP is a document which sets out the options as to how we can spend strategic CIL monies in the following financial year and recommends a number of shortlisted projects for consideration. The draft CFP will go out to public consultation each year so you can tell us whether you agree or disagree with the shortlisted projects and any options for spending. The results of the public consultation are then used to prepare a final recommendation for funding which must then be approved by Cabinet.

Inclusion of a project on the IDS does not guarantee the project will receive CIL funding. There is no deadline setting out how quickly the council must spend the strategic CIL monies.

If you have any suggestions of schemes required to support new development, that you think could benefit from CIL monies in future years, please download, complete and return the proforma below. Guidance notes are provided.

CIL funding approved:

2021 CIL Funding Programme (for 2022/23) approved:

£31,555 for Year 2 of Dial-a-Ride, a demand responsive transport service for West Lancashire (CIL)
£37,650 for the creation of an active community hub at Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre (CIL)
£12,760 for the installation of a publicly accessible mile-long track and a trim-trail at St James' Primary School, Ashurst (Skelmersdale NCIL)
£60,000 to improvements to Whittle Drive changing facilities (Ormskirk NCIL)

2020 CIL Funding Programme (for 2021/22) approved:

£40,000 for improvements to Cheshire Lines Path, Downholland
£30,000 to extend the play area at Long Heyes, Ashurst, Skelmersdale
£50,000 to provide environmental improvements at Delph Clough, Elmers Clough and Westheads Clough, Skelmersdale
£19,000 for a replacement play area at Helmsdale, Skelmersdale
£31,555 to help fund the demand responsive transport service 'Dial-a-Ride' for one year, Borough-wide
£385,000 for towpath improvements between Parbold and Appley Bridge

2019 CIL Funding Programme (for 2020/21) approved:

£100,000 to the rebuild of Hesketh Bank Community Centre
£225,000 to the play area at Tawd Valley, Skelmersdale

2018 CIL Funding Programme (for 2019/20) approved:

£60,000 to access improvements at Hunters Hill Country Park
£31,000 to public right of way improvements at Sluice Lane, Rufford

2017 CIL Funding Programme (for 2018/19) approved:

£25,000 for Mere Sands Wood Visitor Centre Phase II
£60,000 for Chequer Lane Playing Field facilities
£40,000 for Whittle Drive Playing Field facilities
£300,000 towards the Tawd Valley Park Masterplan

2016 CIL Funding Programme (for 2017/18) approved:

£150,000 for Burscough Towpath improvements
£20,000 for Stanley Coronation Park improvements, Skelmersdale
£3,000 for Mere Sands Wood Visitor Centre Phase 1

2015 CIL Funding Programme (for 2016/17) approved:

£20,000 for Skelmersdale allotments
£15,000 for Improvements to car parking at Station Approach, Ormskirk
£8,000 for a Boardwalk at Haskayne Cutting Nature Reserve

Ormskirk local monies

In the absence of a parish council, we retain 15% of CIL monies collected in a non-parished area and use them to fund projects in that area, to ensure that CIL can directly benefit the area the monies came from. We do this in consultation with the local community.

2020 Ormskirk local monies (for 2021/22) approved:

£58,000 for improvements to West End playing field
£10,000 for a play area extension at Halsall Lane Park

2019 Ormskirk local monies (for 2020/21) approved:

£29,000 to play area improvements at Thompson Avenue

2018 Ormskirk local monies (for 2019/20) approved:

£50,000 to improving the signal co-ordination for gyratory traffic in Ormskirk town centre
£53,000 to improving the cycle and pedestrian link between the rail station and the bus station