Decision details

Mrs Taylor, (Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning), seconded by Mr Dignum, moved the recommendations of the Cabinet.

She explained that the Government had decided that the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) wasthe fairest way for newdevelopment to help fund the cost of infrastructure resultingfrom the cumulative impact of development of the area.

CIL was essentially a non-negotiable tax on the increase in the value of land that occurs when planning permission is granted. The rates to be charged were summarised in paragraph 4.4 of the Cabinet report.

The draft Charging Schedule had been subject to two rounds of formal public consultation and an examination undertaken by an independent examiner from the Planning Inspectorate.

The examiner’s role was to consider whether the Council’s proposed charging schedule met the requirements of the Planning Act 2008 and associated regulations. He also needed to be satisfied that the proposed rates were consistent with available viability evidence and would not threaten the delivery of planned development in the Local Plan area.

The examiner had supported the rates proposed by the Council and confirmed that the levy was justified and economically viable. This support had been given despite challenge from the development industry claiming that the rates proposed were too high. The levy would apply to residential and retail development outside of the National Park.

Adoption by the Council would mean that, after 1 February 2016, all relevant development would be subject to the levy. This would, in time, provide substantial funds for the Council to allocate to relevant infrastructure provision.

Mrs Taylor proposed an amendment to Cabinet recommendation (1) by the addition of the following words:

“and in the table in the CIL Charging Schedule on page 78 of the Cabinet papers, on the top two lines under the title, after the words residential, the words ‘the creation of one dwelling or more’ be added in brackets”.

Mrs Taylor concluded by asking that the Council’s thanks should be conveyed to Mrs Dower (Principal Planning Policy Officer (Infrastructure Planning)) for successfully seeing this important project through to conclusion.

Members asked for clarification of the proposed additional wording to recommendation (1). On receiving an explanation, members asked that the point should be dealt with more clearly by the addition of a footnote to the table, rather than additional wording in the table itself, and Mrs Taylor agreed to this.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule (attached as Appendix 2 to the Cabinet report) be adopted to take effect from 1 February 2016, incorporating modification EM1 (revised Charging Schedule map showing grid reference numbers) and further minor amendment (deleting B1, B2 and B8 uses so they are captured in the Standard nil charge) and a footnote be added to the table in the CIL Charging Schedule on page 78 of the Cabinet papers, in relation to the top two lines under the title, to the effect that this charge applies to the creation of one or more dwellings. It does not apply to residential institutions (C2), or residential extensions or annexes (under 100 square metres gross internal area) which are for the benefit of the owner/occupier;

(2)  That the CIL Regulation 123 list (attached as Appendix 3 to the Cabinet report) be adopted;

(3)  That the CIL Payment by Instalments Policy (attached as Appendix 4 to the Cabinet report) be adopted.