Agenda item

To receive an update on the implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy for Huntingdonshire and to comment on an initial draft framework for the ‘governance’ of CIL receipts and its related spending.

(Members of the Overview & Scrutiny Panels for (Social Well-Being) and Environmental Well-Being) have been invited to attend for the discussion on this item).

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained an update on the progress being made with the implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for Huntingdonshire and seeking comments on a draft framework for the governance of CIL receipts and its related spending. The Head of Planning and Housing Strategy reminded the Panel that the CIL for Huntingdonshire has been place since 1^st May 2012 and that in view of the limited expenditure which was expected in the forthcoming year, the Cabinet had agreed that any monies received during 2012/13 would be banked. Members were informed that the Government was still to provide guidance with regard to the distribution of CIL funding and that the report which had been produced was a step in the process of identifying appropriate governance arrangements.

Councillor M F Shellens, with reference to the re-development of RAF Brampton, commented on the need for the Government to determine a figure for the ‘meaningful amount’ of receipts which would be allocated to the area in which the development lay. Members were informed that this had been the subject of a Government consultation and it was estimated that there would be a dedicated pot in the region of 5% to be spent on infrastructure to support growth. This would be in addition to any monies from CIL or Section 106 funding for a particular development.

Members questioned what provision there might be for adjacent areas, which were affected by a particular development. In response, the Head of Planning Services reported that the legislation stated that a meaningful proportion of CIL receipts were to be allocated to a particular community. It was, however, recognised that some developments would have broader implications. Members were reminded that with the exception of the meaningful proportion, CIL in general could be spent anywhere and, therefore, it was important to develop a business plan for the needs of the District.

In terms of the proposed governance arrangements set out within the report, Members commented on the need to provide an opportunity for Parish Councils to exert some influence on the process. Although Members were informed that work had been ongoing with local communities to consider the needs in a group of parishes, Members were of the opinion that there should be representation from parishes and the rural areas on the Growth and Infrastructure Thematic Group.

Reference having been made to the existing Section 106 Working Group and the audit trails which were already in place to monitor spending of Section 106 monies, Members enquired about the processes that would be adopted for the CIL. They were reminded that the District Council was responsible for making decisions on the allocation of funding and advised that Service Level Agreements might be used. Expenditure on particular projects would be monitored. In this respect, attention was drawn to recommendation c within the report which further attempted to address this issue and the legal requirement for there to be a robust monitoring and reporting mechanism to account for all CIL funding on an annual basis. Whereupon, it was 

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to

(a)  approve the proposed CIL governance structure;

(b)  authorise that work progresses with partners through the HSP to further develop the framework and draft business plan to take forward the next stages required in the governance process;

(c)  Request the Head of Planning and Housing Strategy to liaise with the Head of Finance and the Head of Legal to agree draft procedural and management protocols; and

(d)  authorise a further report to come forward to Cabinet in due

course