Agenda item

To consider the attached report (C-007-2019/20).

(1)  That the Delivering Infrastructure in the District: Developer Contributions Strategy attached as Appendix A to the report was agreed; and

(2)    That the mechanisms for Member involvement to support the delivery of infrastructure was noted;

(3)    The new regulations to lift the pooling restrictions for S106 contributions and a requirement to produce an annual infrastructure funding statement from December 2020 was agreed; and

(4)    That this strategy be referred to the Constitution Working Group for their consideration.

The Planning Services Portfolio Holder introduced the report on the developer contributions strategy. It was noted that the growth proposed in the Local Plan Submission Version (currently at examination) would result in requirements to provide additional infrastructure, services and facilities.  The requirements had been identified in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan and supporting documents.  The Council needed to put in place guidance to support the delivery of infrastructure and the processes for achieving the infrastructure.  The guidance provided details on how, what and when planning obligations would be used and the approach to viability for proposed sites in the District to determine the appropriate level of developer contributions to be sought.

The Council and Land Promoters have a responsibility, through the planning process, to manage the impact of the growth and ensure that any harm caused, as the result of development, was mitigated and necessary infrastructure was provided. The Council therefore expects new development to contribute to site related and other infrastructure needs.

The Portfolio Holder added that he would like to add an extra recommendation to the report. That were this to be adopted, then he would like to refer this strategy to the Constitution Working Group, who already have an item on their work programme to review S106 arrangements.

Councillor S Kane asked about the monitoring and delivery of the S106 material; how would it be reported back. He was told that it would go to the Local Plan Cabinet Committee.

Councillor Bedford asked about the pooling of the money; would this commence from a certain date. He was told that it would commence from this coming September, assuming that the regulations were in place.

Councillor H Whitbread commented that this was good report but said that it was essential that we had good communications around this, especially around the masterplans to the local community.  The Portfolio Holder reiterated that yet again they had a consultation running on the statement of community involvement, covering all aspects of planning. It was just one of the ways to get people involved. Masterplanning would be coming through the Local Plans Cabinet Committee to be, eventually adopted by the Council, which would require interaction with residents to get their feedback at an early stage.

Councillor Lion noted that paragraph 8 of the report talked about CIL regulations. Were we now considering CIL instead of S106 agreements. The Planning Services Portfolio Holder said that it was unlikely to have CILs instead of S106s, but it could be that we had CILs as well as S106s. It was a question of balance. Also, you had to have an adopted plan in place before you could adopt a CIL.

Decision:

(1)  That the Delivering Infrastructure in the District: Developer Contributions Strategy attached as Appendix A to the report was agreed; and

(2)    That the mechanisms for Member involvement to support the delivery of infrastructure was noted;

(3)    The new regulations to lift the pooling restrictions for S106 contributions and a requirement to produce an annual infrastructure funding statement from December 2020 was agreed; and

(4)    That this strategy be referred to the Constitution Working Group for their consideration.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

The strategy put in place appropriate guidance to ensure consistent delivery of infrastructure in the District and sets out the approach and the arrangements required to ensure the sustainability and long-term stewardship of the development. Once agreed this document would provide a framework for the consideration of proposals to ensure that the appropriate infrastructure was realised in accordance with the policies in the Local Plan. 

Other Options for Action:

Not to agree the strategy would mean that proposed development could be agreed with a poorly coordinated approach to the delivery of Infrastructure in the District. Without a co-ordinated approach to viability it could mean that the Local Plan was not seen as deliverable or that development was delivered in a piece-meal fashion that did not provide the necessary infrastructure to mitigate the impact of development.