Communities benefitting from reinvestment

Wakefield councillors meeting next week will be asked to agree funding for community projects - including a £200,000 boost for Wakefield Hospice.   

   

Wakefield Council invests the majority of the funding it receives in fees from projects such as new housing developments, warehousing and supermarkets in ways that makes a difference to residents and local communities.   

  

The Council places charges, known as a community infrastructure levy, on developers and reinvests it in a wide variety of ways to benefit local communities.   

   

At their meeting on Tuesday October 15, Cabinet members will be asked to agree funding, subject to approving business cases, for latest reinvestments plans for:   

• £200,000 of funding for Wakefield Hospice to make improvements   
• £25,000 for works at Outwood Memorial Hall   

   

Previously the Council has reinvested funds raised mainly from new housing development on community projects which included:   

• £1m committed to strategic sports and leisure infrastructure in north west Wakefield.   
• £1m committed to the Football Foundation portfolio of projects.
• £500,000 committed to the Broad Lane improvement scheme.
• £400,000 committed to a local area improvement scheme at Highfield Road, Hemsworth.   

   

Investment from developer contributions have other benefits – as they support the regeneration of the district, including town centres, and improved transport links. 

   

They also help to deliver affordable homes and infrastructure and this helps to create job opportunities.   

   

Additionally, fees paid by developers can be used towards education facilities and school places, to support thriving children and families and can fund investment in parks and open spaces, supporting a greener district.   

   

Cabinet will meet on Tuesday 15 October at 10.30am. The meeting can be watched live or later on the Council’s website.   

   

For information:

   

The Council began charging the Community Infrastructure Levy on 1 April 2016 for new homes, retail warehouses and large supermarkets.    

Developer contributions are used to support the delivery of infrastructure to support economic growth and regeneration, prosperity, new jobs, education, skills and housing.  

   

The Council spends 70% of these funds on district wide infrastructure (including roads and other transport facilities; flood defences; schools and other educational facilities; medical facilities; sporting and recreational facilities; and open spaces).   

   

It spends 25% of funds on neighbourhood infrastructure in the areas where the funds are raised (wards town and parish councils); with 5% on the cost of administering the levy.