Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Services and Budgets/Policy Development and Review
The report updates Members on the current preparations for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy across Surrey, the experience to date of those authorities who have already adopted the Levy and the governance arrangements that are currently in place and those that are proposed.
The second part of this report is to update the Select Committee with regard to the funding and the delivery of Horley Master Plan infrastructure and service improvements and to explain the changes to the way in which developer contributions can be secured for infrastructure provision as a consequence of the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy.
Minutes:
Witnesses:
Paul Druce, Infrastructure Agreements Manager
Peter Boarder, Horley Regeneration Project Manager, SCC / Reigate
and Banstead BC
i) CIL Overview
Report
Key
Points Raised During the Discussion:
1. The Chairman began by
inquiring with officers as to the potential for a regular update
with Members on the status of Surrey district and boroughs
readiness for CIL in line with the issues raised in Paragraph 24 of
the report. The Infrastructure Agreements Manager (IAM) raised the
potential for the distribution of a quarterly one page bulletin by
Boroughs on this going forward to members of the select committee
and local committee chairman.
2. Members raised concerns
regarding authorities yet to fully implement CIL and how this may
impact existing development. The IAM informed the Committee that
the failure to adopt CIL could allow certain development to avoid
paying developer contributions but the government's chief planner
has said, where the issue has been raised, that LPA's have had 5
years to adopt CIL and any shortfall in
contributions is
therefore a matter for them.
3. Members noted that local
committees should be scrutinising in detail how CIL funds are
distributed and spent as CIL is adopted across Surrey.
i)
Recommendations:
The
Select Committee endorsed the following recommendations:
a) That there be continued collaboration with Borough and District colleagues in their preparation of Local Plans, Infrastructure Delivery Plans, CIL Charging Schedules and Regulation 123 Lists.
b) Officers continued collaboration with Borough and District colleagues on draft CIL documentation to ensure the County Council is able to support development in each of the areas by securing and providing infrastructure at the required time.
c) Officers continuing to seek agreement as to how the governance regime for CIL will operate in each of the areas by way of a memorandum of understanding or other suitable agreement, and
d) The further work required to secure a suitable governance regime in each of the areas, in the light of the possible different models for governance, given that the Woking model is one that appears to offer the most open and transparent collaborative process for deciding which schemes CIL monies should support.
ii)
CIL/Horley Master Plan Report
1. The Committee inquired as
to the impact of SANGS on CIL payments for Surrey Heath. It was
clarified to Members that up to 80% of CIL contributions are
diverted to SANGS currently. The Committee asked Officers if this
was something that could be determined by Surrey’s Districts
and Boroughs in future (due to SANGS impact on West Surrey
authorities) however it was explained that control of SANGS
framework is determined by the E.U. and as such can’t be
avoided in this instance.
2. The Horley Regeneration Project Manager (HRPM) informed
the Committee that authorities can set different CIL rates for
different areas of any one borough, in line with a geographical and
viability assessment.
3. It was recognised by
Members that SCC and its District and Boroughs have a long
relationship of working together on these types of items and
despite the Committee’s recommendations not being fully
enforceable it was agreed that this issue would remain a matter of
trust between Surrey and it’s local authorities.
ii)
Recommendations:
The
Select Committee endorsed the following recommendations:
a)
The principle of the Borough Council’s
proposal to charge a higher levy for residential development in the
North West Sector
b) Officers making formal representations on the Borough Councils Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule including its Regulation 123 list, as necessary
c) The two authorities work together to reach agreement by way of a memorandum of understanding to ring fence monies to ensure that there is sufficient funding to deliver the identified infrastructure in and service improvements in the HMP
Actions/Further Information to be
Provided:
None
Committee Next
Steps:
None.
Supporting documents: