Agenda item

Planning and Sustainability – to consider the attached report (C-028-2020-21) on the update of the Local Plan.

(1)        The Cabinet noted the progress of Masterplans and Concept Frameworks, including the use of Planning Performance Agreements and the progress of other proposals at pre-application and application stage; and

(2)        The Cabinet agreed the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2019/2020 for online publication by 31 December 2020.

The Planning and Sustainability Portfolio Holder, Councillor Bedford, introduced the report on the update of the implementation of the Local Plan. He noted that we had submitted all our information to the inspector and have had a response from the inspector around timescales, but officers were working to sort that out.

The report provided members with an update on the progress of Strategic Masterplans, Concept Frameworks and Planning Performance Agreements within the District.  Discussions were taking place with site promoters and developers with meetings still taking place virtually. Project programmes were being adjusted where necessary to account of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular community engagement arrangements.

There had also been changes to the Community Infrastructure Regulations which introduced a new requirement for Councils to publish online, an annual infrastructure funding statement by 31 December each year.  This applied from the financial year 2019/2020 onwards and the first statement was required this year to cover the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.  The statement must set out the projects which the authority intends to be funded and details of how much has been collected, how much was spent and what it was spent on.  This was to provide information to communities to enable a better understanding of how developer contributions have been used to deliver infrastructure.  

Councillor Philip said that it was useful to see infrastructure funding statements and good to see Masterplanning was progressing.

Councillor Heap said that affordable housing on site rather than off site would be good, but he expressed his frustration that we have still not finished this project. Councillor C Whitbread shared his frustration noting that the process was very bureaucratic. Councillor Bedford added that they were pushing really hard to get this done by the end of this year. They had a meeting with Natural England coming up and were hopeful to make progress.

DECISION:

(1)        The Cabinet noted the progress of Masterplans and Concept Frameworks, including the use of Planning Performance Agreements and the progress of other proposals at pre-application and application stage; and

(2)        The Cabinet agreed the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2019/2020 for online publication by 31 December 2020.

Reasons for Proposed Decision

•           To ensure that members were kept fully up to date on the progress of Masterplans and Concept Frameworks and other major proposals being promoted within the District.

•           Every Local Authority was required to publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement (‘IFS’) by 31 December each year that sets out the amount of planning obligation expenditure where funds have been allocated.

•           Community Infrastructure Levy Guidance 2014 sets out that:

“Reporting on developer contributions helps local communities and developers see how contributions have been spent and understand what future funds will be spent on, ensuring a transparent and accountable system.”

Paragraph: 172, Reference ID: 25-172-20190901

•           The Councils Infrastructure Delivery Plan had identified the infrastructure projects that are required to deliver development in the District to 2033.

Other Options for Action:

Not to update members on the progress on the above issues would be contrary to the commitment made by the Implementation Team as noted in the 18 October 2018 Cabinet Report.

Not to publish the Infrastructure Funding Statement within the deadline would result in a failure to comply with the Community Infrastructure Levy regulations.