Sennen Parish Council’s Grant Awarding Powers

The Parish Council has the power to award grants to community organisations in the interests of the parish. The Council recognises the importance of supporting groups, organisations and charities that benefit the local community.

Unless a grant is awarded through a specific duty of the Council, the Parish Council awards most grants through Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972. 

The Parish Council may also award grants using the neighbourhood portion of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). CIL income must be used to provide, improve, replace, operate or maintain infrastructure that supports the development of the Parish Council area, or anything else concerned with addressing the demands that development places on the area.

Grants awarded 2024-25

Section 137 Grants

Section 137 grants may awarded at the discretion of the Parish Council. The law requires that Section 137 grants must be:

“in the interests of or directly benefit the area or its inhabitants, or part of it, or some of it” and that “the direct benefit should be commensurate with expenditure”.

Organisations can apply for a grant for any project or activity which is for the benefit of residents.  Projects or activities must be shown to fit at least one of the following criteria:

• Providing a service to members of the Parish
• Enhancing the quality of life for those living in the Parish
• Improving the local environment
• Promoting the Parish in a positive way

The scheme is primarily aimed at community organisations based in, or working in the Parish.

Organisations from outside the Parish may only apply if they can demonstrate a significant economic or social benefit to the local community. The Council may award reduced funding levels or, indeed, refuse to award funding to organisations based outside of the area.

The maximum grant money available to be awarded under section 137 of the 1972 act is limited to an index-linked figure relative to the number of persons on the electoral roll. The maximum expenditure in Sennen Parish is £10.81 per elector (2024/2025). As part of its budget setting process each financial year, the Council agrees the total figure available for grant aid. View the Council’s agreed budgets here

Find more information here

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge that came into force on 6 April 2010 through the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended). The Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 came into force on 1 September 2019.

Cornwall Council (CC) adopted CIL on 1 January 2019 allowing it to raise funds from some forms of new development, to help pay for infrastructure needed to lessen the impacts of new development.

Since then, all developments which create one or more dwellings, or new floorspace of 100 sqm or more, are charged CIL that must be paid to Cornwall Council on commencement of a development. CIL is set at a fixed ‘rate per square metre’ of development, with rates for development in Cornwall set out in a Charging Schedule.

• The majority of CIL funds collected are retained by Cornwall Council to fund or part-fund strategic infrastructure needed by new housing development or other growth.
• A Neighbourhood Portion of CIL funds is passed to the parish or town council where development is taking place. The amount passed on is 15% or 25% of the total collected depending on whether the community has an adopted Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP).
• Up to 5% of CIL funds collected are retained by Cornwall Council for the administration of CIL.

Money raised through CIL can be used to help fund a wide range of infrastructure that is needed as a result of development, e.g.
– new road schemes
– flood defences
– schools
– health facilities
– park improvements
– green spaces
– leisure centres

Sennen Parish Community Infrastructure Levy

Twice a year, Sennen Parish Council receives the “Neighbourhood Portion” of the CIL revenue raised in the area, (15% capped at £100 per existing Council Tax paying dwelling). Payments will increase to 25% (uncapped) when there is an adopted Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Sennen Parish Council can decide to use this Neighbourhood Portion of CIL for relevant projects to benefit the Parish. All decisions involving the approval of CIL applications and disbursement of CIL payments must be made at meetings of the Full Parish Council.

The Parish Council must spend its Neighbourhood Portion on infrastructure projects within the parish area within 5 years or risk the funds being returned to Cornwall Council.

CIL Regulations 2010 (as amended) state that the Parish Council must use CIL income on either:

• the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure; or
• anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on an area.

CIL funds may be used to provide seed or match-funding with other income streams and / or may be spent collaboratively with other parish councils, community interest companies or other providers to make the most efficient use of funding to benefit the community.

Sennen Parish Council can also pass CIL funds back to the Cornwall Council to support the delivery of infrastructure projects and/or maintenance of infrastructure that the Parish Council does not have jurisdiction or responsibility for, such as extensions to schools.