Agenda and minutes

The Chair wished everyone a happy new year.

Although there were no formal late items, the Panel was in receipt of the following additional information:

·  a press release by Nick Boles MP, Department for Communities and Local Government dated 10^th January 2013 (Minute No. 70 refers).

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests or other interests made at the meeting.

An apology for absence was submitted by Councillor P Gruen.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19^th December 2012

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 19^th December 2012 be approved.

With reference to Minute No. 52 of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 26^th September 2012, regarding the LDF Core Strategy – Publication Draft, Analysis of Consultation Responses: Housing Policies H1, H2, H3, H4 and H8, the Head of Forward Planning and Implementation stated that following clarification from Cllr Leadley that with regard to density, the wording of the Core Strategy glossary and Policy H3 would be checked for consistency.  If necessary, there was some scope of clarify as part of the Core Strategy Housing Background paper, prior to submission.

With reference to Minute No. 48 of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 26^th September 2012, regarding the Affordable Housing Threshold, it was also noted that the Director of City Development had been asked to provide an update on the wording of Policy H5 (Affordable Housing).  It was agreed that an update would be provided at the next meeting.

  To consider a report by the Director of City Development which provides an overview of the findings and recommendations of the Economic Viability Study undertaken by consultants GVA as the key evidence base for the development of the CIL for Leeds.

  (Report attached)

With reference to Minute No. 63 of the Development Plan Panel meeting held on 19^th December 2012, where Members considered a report on the development of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for Leeds, the Director of City Development provided a further report.

Appended to the report was The Leeds Community Infrastructure Levy Economic Viability Study which had been carried out for the Authority by GVA.

A representative of GVA was in attendance at the meeting to respond to queries and comments from the Panel.

The Chief Planning Officer referred to recent articles in the local press about the introduction of the CIL by Central Government and stated that its purpose was to raise money from developments (for ‘gap’ funding) to help Councils to deliver infrastructure which arose from new growth.

Whilst the report contained figures for a draft charging schedule, it was proposed that agreement of the charging figure for office development be deferred.  This would allow further discussions to take place and consideration of the approaches to this being taken by other Councils.

Members were informed that the charging rate set by some South West Authorities varied between Bristol which had set a zero charging rate for offices, whereas Birmingham had set a rate of £68 per sq metre.  As it was felt that Manchester City Council, which had yet to publish its proposed charging rate and Leeds were the most critical in this area in terms of office accommodation, further consideration of this matter was therefore necessary.  Members agreed to this approach and that a further meeting should be arranged to consider this element.

Officers then presented the report and outlined the key areas which related to:

·  the Economic Viability Study (EVS); the proposed maximum CIL charges for a range of uses and in different areas of the city

·  other evidence to balance against the recommendations in the EVS

·  the Infrastructure Funding Gap, with details of this being appended to the report

·  the historic S106 data which would be used to support the CIL levies

·  the Instalments Policy

·  the Exceptional Circumstances Policy.

The latest guidance which was issued in December 2012 in respect of the statutory requirement to prepare a Regulation ‘123 List’, was outlined and reference was also made to a recent press statement from the Department for Communities and Local Government regarding the share of the CIL which could be made to neighbourhoods, with this being stated as being 25% of the revenues from the CIL arising from the development which was accepted for those neighbourhoods with a Neighbourhood Plan and 15% for those without such a Plan.

In terms of the draft charging schedule as set out in the EVS, Members were informed that Officers were suggesting lower figures in most cases, with these being included in the submitted report.  Members were informed of a typing error on page 11 and that the CIL charge for Residential – Outer Southern, should be £45 per sq metre and not £48, as stated.  In terms of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

Date and time of next meeting  - To be confirmed

Tuesday, 29^th January 2013 at 1.30pm in the Civic Hall, Leeds.