Agenda item

Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Portion

Joint report of the Executive Director, People Services and the Executive Director, Place..

Decision:

8.1

The Executive Director, People Services submitted a report seeking approval for the process for allocating the “Neighbourhood Portion” (currently 15%) of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) receipts within wards that are not within a Parish Council boundary or an area in which a neighbourhood plan is in place; and (b) delegated authority for decisions on the spending be granted to the Head of Libraries, Community Services & Learning & Skills in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:- 

 

 

 

(a)

agrees that where there is no Parish Council or neighbourhood plan in place in the ward where a chargeable development has taken place, the Neighbourhood Portion is collected into a single Local CIL pot and redistributed using the process set out in the report;

 

 

 

 

(b)

delegates authority to  the Head of Libraries, Community Services & Learning & Skills, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, to determine: (i) how the CIL Neighbourhood Portion allocated to each ward is spent, following engagement with local communities and Ward Councillors, subject to the proviso that monies are spent in accordance with agreed Ward Priorities and (ii) to determine the terms on which such expenditure is incurred including authorising the completion of any related funding agreement or other legal documentation; and 

 

 

 

 

(c)

delegates authority to the Head of Libraries, Community Services & Learning & Skills  to produce a Guidance Note for Councillors and Officers, setting out how decisions on spending the CIL Neighbourhood Portion will be made, based on the details set out in the report.

 

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

The recommendations made in this report are considered to be in line with the CIL Regulations and have been made with regard to the National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG). 

 

 

8.3.2

The proposals that were consulted upon received broad support and so form the basis of the recommendations. 

 

 

8.3.3

The allocation of some of the Neighbourhood Portion based on Indices of Multiple Deprivation provides an opportunity to close the gap between richer and poorer areas of the city.

 

 

8.3.4

The existing ward based approach to community engagement and funding is an efficient mechanism for these decisions. Adopting a similar approach for decisions on the spending of the Neighbourhood Portion would enable better coordination with other ward based funding.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

The Council must ensure the Neighbourhood Portion is spent appropriately in accordance with the CIL Regulations and have regard to the NPPG. The options available are alternative methods of allocating neighbourhood CIL, such as different governance mechanisms and/or different geographies.

 

 

8.4.2

The entirety of the Neighbourhood Portion could be retained in the ward where the development has taken place but this would remove the opportunity to close the gap between the richer and poorer parts of the city.

 

 

8.4.3

Delegations to other officers were considered but the recommendation that the Head of Libraries, Community Services and Learning & Skills, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, is authorised to make these decisions is considered the most appropriate option and would align the Neighbourhood Portion with other ward based funding. 

 

 

8.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director, People Services

 

 

8.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Safer and Stronger Communities

 

 

 

Minutes:

8.1

The Executive Director, People Services submitted a report seeking (a) approval for the process for allocating the “Neighbourhood Portion” (currently 15%) of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) receipts within Wards that are not within a Parish Council boundary or an area in which a neighbourhood plan is in place; and (b) delegated authority for decisions on the spending to be granted to the Head of Libraries, Community Services & Learning & Skills, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:- 

 

 

 

(i)

agrees that where there is no Parish Council or neighbourhood plan in place in the Ward where a chargeable development has taken place, the Neighbourhood Portion is collected into a single Local CIL pot and redistributed using the process set out in the report;

 

 

 

 

(ii)

delegates authority to the Head of Libraries, Community Services & Learning & Skills, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, to determine: (A) how the CIL Neighbourhood Portion allocated to each Ward is spent, following engagement with local communities and Ward Councillors, subject to the proviso that monies are spent in accordance with agreed Ward Priorities and (B) to determine the terms on which such expenditure is incurred including authorising the completion of any related funding agreement or other legal documentation; and 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

delegates authority to the Head of Libraries, Community Services & Learning & Skills  to produce a Guidance Note for Councillors and Officers, setting out how decisions on spending the CIL Neighbourhood Portion will be made, based on the details set out in the report.

 

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

The recommendations made in this report are considered to be in line with the CIL Regulations and have been made with regard to the National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG). 

 

 

8.3.2

The proposals that were consulted upon received broad support and so form the basis of the recommendations. 

 

 

8.3.3

The allocation of some of the Neighbourhood Portion based on Indices of Multiple Deprivation provides an opportunity to close the gap between richer and poorer areas of the city.

 

 

8.3.4

The existing Ward based approach to community engagement and funding is an efficient mechanism for these decisions. Adopting a similar approach for decisions on the spending of the Neighbourhood Portion would enable better coordination with other Ward based funding.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

The Council must ensure the Neighbourhood Portion is spent appropriately in accordance with the CIL Regulations and have regard to the NPPG. The options available are alternative methods of allocating neighbourhood CIL, such as different governance mechanisms and/or different geographies.

 

 

8.4.2

The entirety of the Neighbourhood Portion could be retained in the Ward where the development has taken place but this would remove the opportunity to close the gap between the richer and poorer parts of the city.

 

 

8.4.3

Delegations to other officers were considered but the recommendation that the Head of Libraries, Community Services and Learning & Skills, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, is authorised to make these decisions is considered the most appropriate option and would align the Neighbourhood Portion with other Ward based funding. 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: