Issue - meetings

The Planning Contributions Officer delivered a presentation to update members on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) adopted by the Council on 7 October 2019 and reminded members that the levy is a charge applied to certain types of development to help fund infrastructure across the Borough, as set out in the Council’s published Infrastructure List.

The Planning Contributions Officer provided a recap and explained the levy is intended to address the cumulative effect of development across the Borough. CIL is a fixed-rate charge based on floor space and is charged on retail and residential developments at rates set out in the published Charging Schedule. The adoption of CIL was supported by infrastructure evidence, financial viability evidence alongside Local Plan Part 2.

The Planning Contributions Officer provided a CIL funding overview, explaining that a consultation had been undertaken with key providers of infrastructure types to determine CIL spend priorities, the next step being for officers to assess the identified projects against a Framework Appraisal document and report back to Cabinet to agree a spending programme. Members were advised that the CIL collected to date amounts to £1.1m.

The infrastructure list is as follows:

·       Secondary school places across the Borough through new provision or extension to existing provision

·       Park and Ride along the A52 corridor and bus priority measures in West Bridgford

·       Indoor leisure provision or improvements to existing provision

·       Health facilities across the Borough through new provision or extension to existing provision

·       Playing pitches and ancillary facilities provision or improvements

The Planning Contributions Officer highlighted the main criteria and considerations of the Framework Appraisal document including:

·       Justification – why the project is required, demonstrating need, suitability and due regard to alternatives

·       Strategic Benefits – links to existing and emerging plans/strategies and Corporate objectives

·       Funding – Amount of CIL required/requested, cost of project, other available funding sources

·       Deliverability – approvals/consents required, timescales and potential impediments to delivery

The Planning Contributions Officer continued to explain the Neighbourhood proportions of CIL funds informing members that under the CIL regulation 59A, the Borough Council has to pass a proportion of levy receipts to the Town and Parish Councils, at 15%capped, or 25% where covered by a Neighbourhood Plan. However, the Planning Contributions Officer added that there is a desire to make an additional proportion of the strategic CIL available to areas with no neighbourhood Plan, to provide a consistent level of local funding across the Borough. Members noted that the Neighbourhood proportion is not limited to items within the Infrastructure list and can be spent on a wider range of projects, provided they address the demands that a new development places on that area.

The Planning Contributions Officer advised members of the legislative restrictions and that the Borough Council will be directly responsible for the allocation of Strategic CIL that is made available to Town and Parish Council’s. Town and Parish Council’s will be required to submit bids for any additional funding through a formal process and such requests need to fall within the narrower  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8