Haslemere Town Council is sat on a treasure trove of more than £100,000 community infrastructure levy (CIL) cash to spend on projects in the area.

In April this year more than £135,000 was paid into Haslemere council’s CIL pocket, combined with an additional £50,485 which was carried over from the previous year. So far, of the £186,413 currently in the fund, £14, 206 is set to be paid out in October. 

The council has committed £50,000 for play equipment for the Town Meadow, £39,000 for Haslewey solar panels and £5000 for Haslemere Bowling Club. This leaves a remaining balance of £106,619 to be spent on projects. 

The community infrastructure levy (CIL) is a charge applied to most new developments, or those that increase the footprint of existing dwellings, and is collected by Waverley Borough Council.

A proportion of CIL income is passed to the community where the CIL is raised, with 70 to 80 per cent being kept by Waverley Borough Council for infrastructure projects, 15 per cent being allocated as Neighbourhood CIL for towns and parishes or 25 per cent when a Neighbourhood Plan has been made – such as Haslemere – and five per cent being retained by Waverley Borough Council for administration.

The Neighbourhood CIL is paid out twice a year and must be spent within five years. It can be spent on infrastructure provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance and addressing the demands that development places on an area.

However, it cannot be spent on certain items such as fireworks, carnivals, and Christmas lighting.

Any groups or individuals with a proposal for the town council’s CIL committee to consider should email the deputy town clerk at [email protected]

Find a CIL guide at https://haslemeretc.org/cil-funding/