Agenda item

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is collected from development and used to fund infrastructure necessary to support planned growth set out by the Draft BCP Local Plan. CIL receipts are split into strategic, neighbourhood and administration components. We can only spend CIL once it is received.

Strategic CIL spending governance was agreed by Cabinet in 2021. The Capital Briefing Board (CBB) assesses project bids for strategic CIL and recommends which projects receive spending, subject to following the necessary sign off procedures in accordance with the financial regulations.

Service providers have identified £121.8m infrastructure projects for CIL funding over the next 5 years. This exceeds the projected uncommitted £29.3m Strategic CIL budget and so prioritisation is necessary. This paper asks Cabinet to recommend to Council the priorities for Strategic CIL spend enabling CBB to manage the process.

The preferred approach to prioritisation is set out in Option 2 in the report, to put approximately 80% of Strategic CIL towards large infrastructure projects essential to support local plan growth. The provision of Poole Town Centre flood defences and habitats sites mitigation are critical to enable the Council to grant planning permission. Approximately 20% of CIL remains for discretionary infrastructure projects.

The annual Infrastructure Funding Statement reports all CIL spend.

The Leader of the Council presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is collected from development and used to fund infrastructure necessary to support planned growth set out by the Draft BCP Local Plan, and that CIL receipts are split into strategic, neighbourhood and administration components. We can only spend CIL once it is received.

Cabinet was informed that Strategic CIL spending governance was agreed by Cabinet in 2021, and that the Capital Briefing Board (CBB) assesses project bids for strategic CIL and recommends which projects receive spending, subject to following the necessary sign off procedures in accordance with the financial regulations.

Cabinet was advised Service providers have identified £121.8m infrastructure projects for CIL funding over the next 5 years which exceeds the projected uncommitted £29.3m Strategic CIL budget and so prioritisation is necessary, and that this paper asks Cabinet to recommend to Council the priorities for Strategic CIL spend enabling CBB to manage the process.

Cabinet was informed that the preferred approach to prioritisation is set out in Option 2 in the report, to put approximately 80% of Strategic CIL towards large infrastructure projects essential to support local plan growth, and that provision of Poole Town Centre flood defences and habitats sites mitigation are critical to enable the Council to grant planning permission.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that approximately 20% of CIL remains for discretionary infrastructure projects, and that the annual Infrastructure Funding Statement reports all CIL spend.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Bartlett addressed the Cabinet advising that at their meeting the previous evening the Board had discussed the report and unanimously supported the recommendations as set out in the report.

In addition, the Chair of the Board raised that the list should be revisited with members as their may be areas which are identified within individual wards.

Cabinet spoke in support of the report highlighting the importance and of the necessity to find funding for Phase 2.

It is RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends that Council: -

(a)           Agree the spending priorities for Strategic CIL set out in Option 2 over the period 2024/25 to 2029/30 provided CIL income is as forecast; and

(b)           Annually update this report for Cabinet and Council.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Reason

The infrastructure necessary to support or mitigate the planned growth set out in the Draft BCP Local Plan far exceeds the likely income. This report enables Cabinet to set the spending priorities to provide a clear steer to the Capital Briefing Board to manage the award of CIL to projects.

The meeting adjourned at 12.05pm

The meeting reconvened at 12.28pm

The Leader advised that Agenda Item 11 (Bournemouth Development Company LLP Business Plan) would be moved to the end of the meeting as there were ongoing discussions regarding the recommendations pertaining to the previous evenings Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting.