Agenda item

To receive an update on the implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy in Huntingdonshire and to comment on the Huntingdonshire Infrastructure Business Plan 2013/14 prior to its consideration by the Cabinet.

(Copies of the Business Plan have been provided to Members of the Panel only).

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

(During the discussion on this item (7.15pm) Councillor S Greenall took his seat at the meeting).

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel received an update on the implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy in Huntingdonshire and the contents of the Huntingdonshire Infrastructure Business Plan for 2013/14. By way of introduction, the Assistant Director (Environment, Growth and Planning) reminded the Panel that the District Council was in the early stages of the implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy. The Council was required to produce a Business Plan for 2013/14 which would act as a template for the more significant issues which were likely to arise in future years. Members’ attention was then drawn to a proposed amendment to recommendation (e) that would enable the Assistant Director to approve minor amendments to the Regulation 123 List prior to public consultation.

In considering the contents of the report, a Member enquired about the cost of producing the Business Plan. The Panel was informed that the District Council operated a framework agreement with consultants which meant the Authority could keep costs to a minimum. In addition, the Council was able to recover some of the administrative costs from the CIL fund.

In terms of the list of infrastructure projects identified within the report, Members enquired why reference was made to the Grid at Eaton Socon. In response, the Panel was advised that the Business Plan identified the infrastructure requirements required to support all growth within the District. These would subsequently be prioritised. The Panel was assured that although this project had been identified as critical, it had not been put forward for CIL funding. Members noted that at this point the Huntingdon West Link Road was the only proposed recipient of CIL receipts for 2013/14. As further funding became available, work would be undertaken to identify additional projects for funding.

Comment was made that the list of infrastructure projects did not include any projects that supported the Environment Agency in addressing the potential impact of climate change and the infrastructure deficit in the District’s waterways. Members were informed that the list of projects was based on suggestions by members of the Growth and Infrastructure Group, which included the Environment Agency. It was explained that the Plan was based on infrastructure needs arising from growth and was not intended to fund infrastructure deficits.

The Panel then discussed the governance structure, which had previously been approved by the District Council’s Cabinet. In doing so, Members received an explanation of the process for preparing the Business Plan. The Plan would be submitted to the Cabinet on 21^st March 2013 but, if it was not approved, it would be referred back to the Growth and Infrastructure Group for further consideration.

Further on the subject of the governance structure, the Panel enquired at what point the local community would become involved and reference was made to the previous suggestion that there should be representation from parishes and the rural areas on the Growth and Infrastructure Thematic Group. In response, Members were informed that the need to engage and work with the town and parish councils had been recognised, particularly in light of recent announcements with regard to the ‘meaningful proportion’ that would be allocated to the area in which development was occurring. There would be a longer time-frame to prepare the next plan. This would permit engagement with local communities. It would be important to understand the requirements of individual parishes and, in this respect, Members emphasised the need to involve parishes, especially if they were expected to contribute to major projects.

In response to a question regarding the baseline data which had been used tp prepare the Plan, Members were informed that CIL funding needs were based on the current charging schedule. The view was expressed that it should be made clear that the Plan was based on current values and that they would be indexed in the future. Comment was also made that elements such as targeted growth funds and the Priority Schools Building programme were missing from the Plan. It was suggested that it should be updated to include an exhaustive analysis of funding opportunities.

Having recognised that there would be an annual review of the process, concern was expressed that the Growth and Infrastructure Group, which recommended CIL expenditure, was also responsible for the monitoring arrangements. In response, the Panel was advised that monitoring would be undertaken within the District Council and an investigation currently was being undertaken into whether there were software packages available to facilitate this process. As there was a requirement that monitoring reports on progress were produced on a regular basis, it was agreed to await the monitoring proposals before making a further recommendation on this matter. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Panel’s comments be conveyed to the Cabinet for consideration as part of its deliberations on the Huntingdonshire Infrastructure Business Plan for 2013/14; and

(b)  that the Cabinet be recommended to –

(i)  approve the Huntingdonshire Infrastructure Business Plan 2013/14;

(ii)  authorise the Assistant Director, Environment, Growth and Planning after consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing Strategy to make any minor amendments necessary to the Plan prior to its publication on the Council website;

(iii)  approve the banking of CIL receipts during 2013/14 financial year with the exception of funding the Huntingdon West Link Road scheme;

(iv)  request the Assistant Director (Environment, Growth and Planning) to liaise with the Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) and the Head of Legal to agree a ‘service level agreement’ for utilising the release of any CIL receipts for infrastructure project delivery; and

(v)  approve the draft Regulation 123 List for public consultation as outlined above, subject to any minor amendments necessary as authorised by the Assistant Director (Environment, Growth and Planning), after consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing Strategy.