Agenda and minutes

Councillor Sheppard declared a personal interest as he was Chair of the Planning Board so was technically involved with the Community Infrastructure Levy from the Planning Board perspective.

There were no questions from members of the public.

There were none.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Improving Places Selection Commission held on Thursday, 14^th February, 2019 be deferred due to a number of comments having been received after the agenda had been published.

(2)  That the minutes of the previous meeting be included for consideration as part of the agenda pack for the meeting scheduled for Thursday, 18^th April, 2019.

(3)  That prior to consideration of the minutes in April, 2019, further information be provided to the Select Commission on the outcome of the decision with funeral directors and circulation of the Project Liaison Group minutes.

Consideration was given to the report introduced by Councillor Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, which provided an update on the implementation of the Rotherham Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which was a financial charge via the Planning system, introduced as a tool for local authorities in England and Wales to help deliver infrastructure to support the development of their area.

The Community Infrastructure Levy was introduced by the Planning Act 2008 and adopted by the Council in 2017 and was intended to largely replace Section 106 agreements on individual planning permissions. It was intended to help to fund infrastructure such as:-

•           Extra school places

•           Road improvements

•           Public transport improvements

•           Better green spaces

Rotherham’s CIL was prepared in tandem with the Local Plan Core Strategy. The strategy included an Infrastructure Delivery Plan summarising what infrastructure was required to support Local Plan growth. Government regulations set out that the Council could only spend CIL income on infrastructure to support the development of its area. It could not be used for general funding. CIL would help to fund this infrastructure, however, the total cost of the infrastructure required (£50m) far exceeded the likely income from CIL (£15m). Therefore, other sources of funding would still be required and the Council will have to prioritise how CIL income was spent.

With the aid of powerpoint Bronwen Knight, Acting Assistant Director for Planning, Regeneration and Transport, and Andy Duncan, Acting Head of Planning and Building Control, provided a presentation which detailed the aim to deliver a local plan development plan to guide all future development. 

The presentation covered:-

·                Strategy and sites to deliver growth.

·                Rotherham Local Plan – Core Strategy.

·                Rotherham Local Plan – Sites and Polices.

·                Employment Growth Areas.

·                Housing Growth Areas – Regulation 123 List.

·                Local Plan Housing Sites.

·                Why CIL was needed – 83 new housing sites, 36 employment sites and 30,200² m retail floorspace.

·                Community Infrastructure Levy – implemented July, 2017.

·                Rotherham CIL Documents – Charging Schedule, Regulation 123 List and Instalments Policy.

·                Rotherham CIL Charge Rates.

·                Rotherham Residential Charging Zones.

·                When CIL applied

·                When CIL did not apply.

·                New Infrastructure.

·                Example - RAG rating for schools.

·                Regulation 123 List.

·                Projected CIL Income – Estimate £14.7 million for the plan period = £1.3 million per year.

·                CIL income received to date.

·                How CIL spent was spent – Strategic (85%), Local (15%) and Admin (5%).

·                CIL spend approval route.

·                Payments to Parish Councils.

·                CIL and Neighbourhood Planning.

·                CIL income due to Parishes.

·                How Parishes could spend CIL.

·                Parishes supporting development.

·                Parish spend of CIL.

·                Parish CIL reporting – annual statement.

·                Benefits of CIL over Section 106 Agreements.

·                Section 106 Agreements.

·                Section 106 Account in last five years.

·                Section 106 spend in last five years.

·                Changes to CIL and Section 106 Agreements.

A discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised and subsequently clarified:-

v   Payments to Parish Councils of either15% or 25% and whether it was possible to pool  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Consideration was given to the date and time of the next meeting and in doing so the Commission were also asked to give some thought about the Work Plan for 2019/20.  Any suggestions should be sent through to the Scrutiny Adviser.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission take place on Thursday, 18^th April, 2019 commencing at 1.30 p.m.