Issue - meetings

To invite the Cabinet to consider recommendations relating to infrastructure projects seeking funding in whole or in part from an amount of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies received to date.

Executive Councillor: T Sanderson.

The Cabinet has

(a)  noted the information on projects previously allocated or in receipt of funding commitments and the updates on their delivery (as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report submitted);

(b)  agreed Officer recommendations for projects submitted in this round for over £50,000 Community Infrastructure Levy funding as detailed in Section 4 of the report submitted; and

(c)  agreed change requests for St Ives Park Extension and St Neots Riverside projects (as outlined in Appendix 3 of the report submitted).

See Minute No. 22/94 – Members’ Interests.

At 7:26pm, Councillors L Davenport-Ray, B M Pitt, T D Sanderson, S L Taylor and S Wakeford vacated the room for this item.

The Chair announced that the meeting was still quorate with the remaining three Cabinet Members in the room.

A report by the Chief Planning Officer was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) inviting the Cabinet to consider recommendations relating to infrastructure projects seeking funding in whole or in part from an amount of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies received to date.

In the absence of the Executive Councillor for Planning, the Managing Director (Interim) delivered an outline of the proposals and an explanation of the background to each of the recommendations contained within the report which including the change requests received for the St Ives Park Extension and St Neots Riverside projects. He then went on to outline the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) which were noted by the Cabinet.

Having regard to Section 4 of the report, the Chair then went through each of the projects identified, drawing attention to the recommendations proposed. It was noted that in the case of those applications which had been proposed to be declined, a full and comprehensive response back to the applicant would be provided indicating the reasons for the decline.

In response to a question which had been raised by the Executive Councillor for Corporate and Shared Services, it was confirmed that the project indicated at paragraph 4.2 of the report for the Police Training Facility in Sawtry had previously been declined but that this application was now only seeking a 5% CIL ask. Whereupon, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to note the information on projects previously allocated or in receipt of funding commitments and the updates on their delivery (as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report now submitted);

(b)  to agree Officer recommendations for projects submitted in this round for over £50,000 Community Infrastructure Levy funding as detailed in Section 4 of the report now submitted; and

(c)  to agree change requests for St Ives Park Extension and St Neots Riverside projects (as outlined in Appendix 3 of the report now submitted).

At 7:36pm, Councillors L Davenport-Ray, B M Pitt, T D Sanderson, S L Taylor and S Wakeford re-entered the room and took their seats at the meeting.

The Community Infrastructure Levy Funding Allocation Report is to be presented to the Panel.

By means of a report by the Chief Planning Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Community Infrastructure Levy Funding Allocation report was presented to the Panel.

Councillor Harvey enquired about the approval for the police application which supports three counties, when the application for Huntingdon Pavilion had been refused. The Panel heard that the purpose of CIL is to support infrastructure and make improvements to the local area and policing is considered to be part of ‘community’. It was felt that the application by the police met the criteria whereas the pavilion application did not for the reasons mentioned in the report. Following a request from Councillor Gleadow as to whether the lack of funding from Sports England had played a part, the Panel heard that the business case of the application was considered alongside expert advice from the Council’s leisure team. It was noted that CIL funding is limited and the need to be assured that the project can be fully delivered is vital.

Following an enquiry by Councillor Pickering, the Panel heard that CIL funding is subject to an ongoing national government consultation until June. The current process has been paused to allow for a full review of CIL governance to ensure it enables growth and provides value for money. While this work is ongoing it will also have regard to emerging guidance associated with the proposed Infrastructure Levy.

Councillor Cawley observed that the report showed a sensible approach to applications by officers with clear reasoning for their decisions

It was thereupon

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel would be passed to Cabinet for their consideration when making a decision upon the recommendations contained within the report. It was noted that Councillors Blackwell and Harvey abstained from this resolution.