Decision details

Executive Board is requested to approve key parameters for spending of the Community Infrastructure Levy income across Leeds, including proportion given to local communities, governance and engagement arrangement for that proportion, and strategic spending principles.

Further to Minute No. 66, 17^th September 2014, the Director of City Development and the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a joint report which proposed the key parameters for the spending of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) income across Leeds, including the proportion given to local communities, governance and engagement arrangements for that proportion, together with strategic spending principles.

Appendix 2 to the submitted report which contained the comments and recommendations of the Scrutiny Board (Sustainable Economy and Culture) was circulated to Executive Board Members prior to the meeting. The Scrutiny Board met on 3rd February 2015 to consider such matters. In considering Appendix 2, the Scrutiny Board was thanked for its work on this subject, and it was noted that such recommendations would be taken into consideration.

Responding to enquiries, the Board received further information on the following:-

·  The consultation and engagement procedures which would be undertaken by the Council with Parish and Town Councils and those community organisations with Neighbourhood Plans throughout the CIL process;

·  The proposed timeframes by which neighbourhood funding would be allocated;

·  The respective roles envisaged for Ward Members and for Community Committees when considering the allocation of the neighbourhood fund;

·  The ways in which the retained element of the CIL would be utilised by the Council.

In acknowledging the complex nature of the arrangements for spending local CIL funds, it was requested that a further report be submitted to Executive Board providing further detail on such matters.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the following be agreed:-

(i)  The Council will retain 5% of the CIL to cover administration and implementation costs;

(ii)  15% of CIL income to be the neighbourhood fund, subject to the cap set in national Regulations, or 25% in areas with an adopted neighbourhood plan;

(iii)  To retain the default timetable in the CIL Regulations for transferring the neighbourhood fund: 1st October to 31st March transferred by 28th April, and 1^st April to 30th September transferred by 28th October each year.

(iv)  To continue to work closely with Parish Councils and other community groups and infrastructure providers, including through the Site Allocations Plan and maximising use of CIL resources;

(v)  To use existing Community Committee structures to direct spending of the neighbourhood fund;

(vi)  For guidance/protocols to be established to ensure a consistent approach to defining the locality for spending and consultation purposes. Community Committees may then publish their own parameters for the spending of the neighbourhood fund in their area. This will need to include consultation and joint working with adjoining Committees to determine the approach to CIL spending from development that may occur on or near Committee boundaries, and with Parish Councils in recognising the control parishes have over the neighbourhood fund for their own parish;

(vii) That priorities for strategic CIL spend are decided on an annual basis as part of the Council’s budget setting process, in line with the Regulation 123 List, and taking into account the impact of specific and cumulative infrastructure needs arising from new development.

(b)  That it be noted that the following steps will be undertaken in order to deliver the resolutions of the Board:-

(i)  The appropriate internal procedures will be put in place to set the necessary systems for collection, distribution, and monitoring of the CIL Income;

(ii)  The timescales for the implementation of the decisions are that Leeds City Council will start charging the CIL from 6th April 2015 and so the necessary procedures will be in place from that date and ongoing;

(iii)  The Chief Planning Officer will be the officer responsible for the implementation of such matters.

(c)  That a further report be submitted to Executive Board providing further detail on the arrangements for spending the local CIL funds (15% or 25%), particularly in those areas without a parish or town council.

The strategic overview for the CIL spending as set by the Reg 13 List, has already been agreed by Executive Board following periods of consultation with internal and external stakeholders, and some of those raised comments relevant to the issue of detailed spending.

Draft versions of this Executive Board report outlining the multiple options for spending (and resulting in refinement to the final recommendations proposed) have previously been reviewed by City Development Directorate, Strategic Investment Board, and Corporate Leadership Team.

A number of Services, external infrastructure providers, and local communities will be affected by the way the CIL is spent no matter what parameters are placed on it.  No further consultation is proposed with those bodies at this time on the overall parameters, i.e. the amount to be retained by the Council for strategic spend and how the neighbourhood fund will be passed to local communities.  Consultation on individual spending decisions will be as undertaken within the standard process for setting the Capital Progamme.  However, some of the decisions recommended in this report are directly concerned with ensuring local communties have further involvement and influence on local CIL spending of the neighbourhood fund, primarily through Community Committees and working with Town and Parish Councils.

As outlined in the consultation process section.