Agenda item

To receive a report by the Head of Development on a revised governance structure for the management and operation of the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and confirmation of continued Community Infrastructure Levy funding towards the costs of the Huntingdon West Link Road.

 i.  Approves the revised Community Infrastructure Levy governance structure and the revised Terms and Conditions and Membership of the Growth and Infrastructure Group.

ii.  That the following District Councillors be appointed to serve on the Growth and Infrastructure Group for the remainder of the Municipal Year:

•  Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing (Chairman);

•  Chairman of the Development Management Panel;

•  Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being); and

•  Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being)

iii.  Approves the further investment of Community Infrastructure Levy towards the Huntingdon West Link Road. 

The Cabinet received a report by the Head of Development (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding a revised governance structure for the management and operation of the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and the continued Community Infrastructure Levy funding towards the costs of the Huntingdon West Link Road.

The Cabinet approved a funding profile for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) expenditure relating to the Huntingdon West Link Road (Edison Bell Way) to enable the regeneration and development of that area.  The Link Road was currently the only CIL funded project that had been approved by the Cabinet.

As it was important that CIL funding was invested wisely to ensure the timely delivery of community infrastructure projects that supported the Council’s development and growth agenda, the scale of CIL funding that would be generated in future years, and the need to prioritise the investment of CIL funds to key projects, it was necessary to review the governance arrangements for the investment of CIL funds.

The initial CIL governance structure was approved by the Cabinet in October 2012.  However, the partnership between the Growth and Infrastructure Group and the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership had not worked as effectively as initially envisaged.  To work effectively the Growth and Infrastructure Group needed to meet regularly to make progress with its business and to contribute appropriate management information to the Council.  Reporting to the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership Board, which met infrequently, hindered the level of progress and action that was likely to be required as the CIL fund increased in line with the amount of new development in future years.

The Cabinet agreed that the Growth and Infrastructure Group would continue subject to three key changes:

i.  that the membership be strengthened to enable the Group to have more direct input from elected Members from both the District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council. 

ii.  the Officer membership and representation from infrastructure related bodies, in particular the importance of the representation from the Local Enterprise Partnership, should remain and be strengthened. 

iii.  that the Group would not be linked to the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership and would report via the Overview and Scrutiny process and to the Cabinet.

Having considered the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) the Cabinet appointed the following District Councillors to the Growth and Infrastructure Group:

•  Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing (Chairman);

•  Chairman of the Development Management Panel;

•  Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being); and

•  Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being)

The Cabinet requested that Town and Parish Councils be reminded of the reporting requirements if awarded CIL funding.  Whereupon the Cabinet

RESOLVED

to

 i.  approve the revised Community Infrastructure Levy governance structure and the revised Terms and Conditions and Membership of the Growth and Infrastructure Group.

ii.  that the following District Councillors be appointed to serve on the Growth and Infrastructure Group for the remainder of the Municipal Year:

•  Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing (Chairman);

•  Chairman of the Development Management Panel;

•  Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being); and

•  Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being)

iii.  approve the further investment of Community Infrastructure Levy towards the Huntingdon West Link Road.