Nearly £360,000 of capital funding is available for community projects in eight of Solihull’s wards, says Solihull Council.
It is urging community groups and organisations in those areas to submit bids.
The funding comes from the new Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) that has been collected in 2019/20, plus £128,044 which has been ‘rolled over’ from 2019.
CIL was introduced by the Government in 2010 as a more flexible way of addressing the demands of new development in the local area, the council says.
The local authority says the money is collected from new developments as part of the normal planning process. The funds are either placed into ‘ward pots’, which will now be open to ‘bids’ from local communities, or distributed directly to the 13 parish and town councils via a formula.
Councillor Alison Rolf, Cabinet Member for Stronger & Safer Communities, said:
“In these unprecedented times I am glad to announce these substantial amounts of funding available for eight of our wards. I know our community groups are busy supporting their local communities during this pandemic, but here is a chance to think of the future and put forward bids for capital projects that will improve their ward for years to come.
“I urge community groups in the eight wards to think about the bids they can submit and to get them in before 1 September 2020. And for those living in one of our parish or town council areas, the CIL funds are distributed to directly those organisations, so if you have an idea contact your local parish or town council.”
The amount of funding available for each ward area is:
Dorridge and Hockley Heath £41,959
Knowle £55,122
Olton £42,553
Shirley East £69,866
Shirley South £42,579
Shirley West £25,827
Sillhill £49,403
St Alphege £31,772
Bids for funds must be submitted by 1 September 2020.
