Cabinet Member for Planning
Minutes:
41.1 The Chair invited Councillor Burn to introduce paper MC/22/15.
41.2 Councillor Welham asked if invitations to briefings to parish councils could be extended to village hall committees and community groups.
41.3 Councillor Burn stated that it would have to be agreed with Babergh District Council but it seemed a sensible idea, the Professional Lead – Key Sites and Infrastructure Manager commented that the scope had been widened to include other organisations.
41.4 In reply to several questions from Councillor Otton, the Professional Lead – Key Sites and Infrastructure stated that table 2 of the CIL expenditure framework set out the parameters for spend outside the Councils geographical boundaries and repairs and maintenance had been ruled out of the CIL expenditure framework because a key principle of CIL was to use it for infrastructure to service new growth.
41.5 In reply to questions from Councillor Mansel, the Professional Lead – Key Sites and Infrastructure stated that works had begun to update the infrastructure delivery plan and the infrastructure list and as these were evidence based documents looking at growth and trying to understand what capacity there was in the system to support the infrastructure, Councillors would be unlikely to be able to influence what was on the infrastructure list. Also, the Joint Member Panel were very keen to put forward a measure which would allow some costed schemes to be brought forward in relation to the local cycling and walking infrastructure plan and collaborative works with the Sustainable Travel Officer were taking place.
41.6 Councillor Eburne asked if it was realistic to expect a quote to be valid for up to four months as stated in the report and could it be communicated what the £18.8 million currently in the strategic CIL fund was proposed to be spend on in the future.
41.7 The Professional Lead – Key Sites and Infrastructure agreed that holding quotes for any length of time was unrealistic therefore it has been agreed to update quotes as assessments of projects were progressed. In relation to the moneys held in the strategic CIL fund, a 5-year work plan was being worked on which would allow a budget and forecast to be formulated.
41.8 Following questions from Councillor Mellen and Councillor Whitehead, the Deputy Monitoring Officer confirmed that although Babergh District Council would not be voting on this report until September it would not prevent Mid Suffolk Council from approving the amendments to the CIL expenditure framework in relation to Mid Suffolk bids.
41.9 Councillor Warboys asked if clarification could be given to parish councils regarding how parish infrastructure plans related to CIL bids.
41.10 Councillor Burn confirmed that if an item was not on a parish infrastructure plan it did not mean a CIL bid could not be submitted.
41.11 Councillors debated issues in the report including improving communications with parish councils in relation to CIL, approving a joint framework when the Babergh report had been deferred to September, the CIL charging framework and future all member briefings on the subject of CIL.
41.12 The recommendations in the report were PROPOSED by Councillor Burn and SECONDED by Councillor Flatman.
It was RESOLVED: -
1.1 That the amendments to the CIL Expenditure Framework – July 2022 (arising from the fourth review) - (Appendix A) and the CIL Expenditure Framework Communications Strategy – July 2022 (Appendix B) be approved.
1.2 That the CIL Expenditure Framework and the CIL Expenditure Framework Communications Strategy be reviewed again whilst Bid round 10 is being considered (October 2022) so that any amended scheme can be in place before Bid round 11 occurs (May 2023).
1.3 That Mid Suffolk agree that the Joint Member Panel be retained to inform this (fifth) review.
Supporting documents: