Issue - meetings

A report was submitted which enabled the committee to consider a new process for assessing, evaluating and determining Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) bid applications for infrastructure projects within the District. The suggested process had been formulated by officers in conjunction with the CIL working group with support from the Coast2Capital Local Enterprise Partnership. 

Officers responded to Members’ questions and comments. While some Members expressed reservations, including the extent to which the assessment criteria could be regarded as objective, the Committee concluded that the introduction of a transparent process should be welcomed on the basis that it could always be reviewed in the future. Other Members observed that the wide-ranging nature of CIL bids would require an element of subjective assessment. It was also acknowledged that:

• input from the NHS to brief the working group about the funding process for health-related infrastructure projects would be welcome; and

• a key role of the working group should be to determine whether the assessment process has been followed and, if not, how to remedy it.

The question of whether the working group should consider bids on an annual or biannual basis was discussed. The majority of Committee members supported the latter.  

Discussion also focused on the size and membership of the group which wasn’t defined within the suggested terms of reference. The Committee favoured a non-political, area-based approach to ensure, for example, that all County Divisions were represented on the group. It was considered that determination of this matter should be delegated to the Executive Head of Communities, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee.

          R E S O L V E D – that:

A.   the new CIL bid application process and associated application forms and guidance notes, as set out in Appendices A to F to the report, be agreed;

B.    the governance arrangements for determining CIL bids, as set out in the terms of reference of the CIL working group (Appendix G to the report) be agreed;

C.    the infrastructure process map (Appendix H to the report) be noted;

D.    CIL bids be considered by the Working Group (and determined by the Committee, based on the Group’s recommendations) on a biannual basis; and

E.    authority for agreeing the size and composition of the CIL working group be delegated to the Executive Head of Communities in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee.