Agenda item

** Please note that due to the size of the document, appendix 8 will be published as a supplement to the main agenda. It can be accessed online and a hard copy will be available in the Members’ Room **

Report of Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy

Purpose of report

To seek Member endorsement to consult the public for six weeks on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL): Draft Charging Schedule and Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

This is the second of two formal consultations on a potential CIL charge for Cherwell to be followed by an examination in public.

The Developer Contributions SPD forms part of the Council’s Local Development Framework and its content will be subject to one formal consultation.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To approve the CIL Draft Charging Schedule (Appendix 1), which also includes a Draft CIL Regulation 123 list and Draft Instalments Policy, for a six week public consultation.

1.2         To approve the Draft Developer Contributions SPD (Appendices 2 and 3) for a six week public consultation.

1.3         To authorise the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the CIL Draft Charging Schedule (Appendix 1) and Draft Developer Contributions SPD (Appendices 2 and 3) before formal consultation commences.

Resolved

(1)          That the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Draft Charging Schedule, which also includes a Draft CIL Regulation 123 list and Draft Instalments Policy, be approved for a six week public consultation.

(2)          That the Draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document be approved for a six week public consultation.

(3)          That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be authorised to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Draft Charging Schedule and Draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document before formal consultation commences.

The Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy submitted a report to seek Member endorsement to consult the public for six weeks on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL): Draft Charging Schedule and Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

In introducing the report, the Lead Member for Planning, Councillor Clarke, explained that this was the second of two formal consultations on a potential CIL charge for Cherwell to be followed by an examination in public.

The Developer Contributions SPD formed part of the Council’s Local Development Framework and its content would be subject to one formal consultation.

Resolved

(1)          That the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Draft Charging Schedule, which also includes a Draft CIL Regulation 123 list and Draft Instalments Policy, be approved for a six week public consultation.

(2)          That the Draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document be approved for a six week public consultation.

(3)          That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be authorised to make any necessary minor and presentational changes to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Draft Charging Schedule and Draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document before formal consultation commences.

Reasons

A Draft Charging Schedule and a Draft Developer Contributions SPD are presented for approval to proceed to formal consultation.

Once adopted and subject to consultation, CIL and the Developers Contributions SPD will operate alongside each other forming the package of contributions or obligations expected to come forward from development proposals to mitigate the impact of development and help fund infrastructure needed to support growth. They are not intended to provide all the funding needed but could help maximise resource income which would otherwise not be available.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not consulting on the proposed documents

Officers consider that without proceeding with this consultation the Council will not be able to assess the potential benefits of implementing CIL. Consultation will help ensure a robust and transparent process.

The current Draft Planning Obligations SPD (July 2011) is now out of date, it carries little weight in decision making and its continued use will potentially make it more difficult for the Council to secure S106 developer contributions in the future.

Option 2: Amending the proposed documents

The two documents proposed for consultation were prepared having regard to national policy guidance, informal engagement with key stakeholders and updated development evidence. It is considered by officers that they present an appropriate balance between ensuring that ‘as a whole’ the economic viability of development proposals is not detrimentally affected and the desire to fund infrastructure.

Proceeding to consultation will provide a further opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to address matters formally and inform the preparation of both documents.