Barnet Council's Cabinet has approved an allocation of £750,000 for community projects across the borough for the 2026/27 financial year. This funding, derived from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL), will be split equally between the three Area Committees: East, West, and North, with each receiving £250,000.
The decision, made during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, aims to support local infrastructure and community-led initiatives, with a strong emphasis on projects that address the impacts of growth and development.
The NCIL funds will now be administered through the Area Committees, a move designed to enhance transparency, Member accountability, and ensure funding is directed towards projects delivering lasting community benefits. This replaces previous cross-party advisory groups, utilising an established democratic structure for local representation and place-based decision-making.
Under the new arrangements, community grants will be capped at £25,000 per project, while council-delivered infrastructure projects can receive up to £75,000. The funding priorities for projects include Sustainability, Community Engagement, Public Health, Community Safety, and Community Facilities. Projects must demonstrate a clear, lasting, and accessible benefit to the wider community and a strong connection to addressing the impacts of growth and development.
Strengthened eligibility criteria have been introduced, requiring applicants to meet statutory requirements as outlined in the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 and the Planning Act 2008. These define eligible infrastructure as including transport facilities, flood defenses, schools, medical facilities, sporting and recreational facilities, and open spaces. Barnet's local criteria include Ward Member sponsorship, location within the borough with wide community benefit, compliance with council policy, and a clear connection to addressing the impacts of growth and development. Projects primarily benefiting a single organisation, political lobbying, direct benefit to councillors, applications from individuals, projects on private land not accessible to the public, and operational or revenue costs are excluded.
Applications will be pre-screened by a joint Member and Officer panel before being presented to the Area Committees for decision. The process aims to be transparent and efficient, with applications reopening in autumn 2026. The first funding cycle is expected to commence with Area Committees meeting in November 2026, with subsequent meetings planned for March and June, suggesting further funding cycles in the following year.
The evaluation of 'lasting community benefits' for funded projects will involve submitting an impact statement and a final report to the NCIL Coordinator upon project completion. This report will comprehensively evaluate the project's success against initial objectives, outline outcomes achieved, detail community benefits delivered, and report on the expenditure of funds. The Council's annual Infrastructure Funding Statement will also include a section on Neighbourhood CIL funding, detailing projects allocated funding and expenditure.
Further details on the meeting and reports can be found in the Public reports pack for the Cabinet meeting on 15th September 2026.