WINCHESTER City Council is considering around £1m of funding for community organisations and projects.

Cabinet members will meet next week to discuss community and council-led projects recommended for money from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Bids were submitted between January and March this year. The CIL comprises money contributed by developers when given planning permission.

Pending cabinet approval, approximately £296,341 may be allocated to 13 organisations. These allocations include a building purchase for St John’s Ambulance and energy-efficient upgrades to Jubilee Hall in Bishop's Waltham.

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Other projects include the installation of new play equipment, enhancements to allotments, community centres, and St. Barnabas Church, and the redevelopment of Waterlooville Leisure Centre with a £200,000 capital grant from CIL receipts.

Additionally, £410,000 is under consideration for the refurbishment of public toilets in various locations within the town and district, and £21,000 for new and improved bus shelters on Cromwell and Andover Roads. Meadowside Leisure Centre in Whiteley may have its gas boilers replaced with air-source heat pumps at a cost of £60,000.

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Council documents state: “CIL funding is allocated to improve local community facilities and to reduce the need for residents to travel further afield to access those types of facilities, especially in areas where there has been significant development.

“CIL funding is also provided to enhance public open space and support active travel, to help create a greener district and reduce carbon emissions. 

“The criteria for the funding of schemes includes asking bidders to demonstrate how their projects contribute towards the priorities of the Council Plan and other strategic policies and strategies.

“Much of the infrastructure allocated CIL funding is allocated to community projects in areas where new residential development is planned or is already having an impact. This helps in supporting both the existing residents and new residents to form part of the local community by providing the facilities enabling community cohesion.”

For the full cost breakdown go to democracy.winchester.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=4264.

The decision will be made on Tuesday, October 17.