Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of City Development setting out the Council’s proposed response to the government consultation on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The report also provides a broad background to the CIL and its implementation in Leeds, to set out the issues for the consultation document and to gain consensus for officers to take this work forward. The report also addresses the recommendation of the Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) on the proportion of CIL that should go to local communities, which was previously considered at the Executive Board meeting held on 2^nd November 2011.

The Director of City Development submitted a report presenting for approval the Council’s proposed response to the Government consultation exercise being undertaken in respect of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). In addition, the report also provided background to the CIL and its implementation in Leeds, whilst also addressing the recommendation of the Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) on the proportion of CIL that should be allocated to local communities, a matter which was previously considered at the Executive Board meeting held on 2^nd November 2011 (Minute No 117 referred). In determining this matter, the Board took into consideration all matters contained within the accompanying report.

Concerns were expressed that the level of the CIL which would be retained in local areas, as suggested within the submitted report as part of the draft response to the Government’s related consultation exercise, may be too low and did not represent a ‘meaningful proportion’.Concerns were also raised regarding the proposal, also within the draft response to the Government’s related consultation exercise, to removethe cap on the amount of levy funding that charging authorities may apply to administrative expenses. In response, the Chair requested that further work be undertaken in relation to all the concerns raised, with a further report on such matters being submitted to the Board in due course, in order to inform the Council’s position.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the background information relating to the implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy in Leeds be noted.

(b)  That a Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule be developed as a matter of priority, and that the necessary funding, as set out within paragraph 4.4.2 of the submitted report, be approved.

(c)  That further work be undertaken in relation to all the concerns raised during the discussion, with a further report on such matters being submitted to the Board in due course.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor A Carter required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the decisions taken above)