Issue - meetings

The report sought the Committee’s agreement to publish the second annual ‘Infrastructure Funding Statement’ for the 2020/21 financial year as required under the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended) by 31 December 2021. Under the Regulations the Council was designated as a ‘contribution receiving authority’ and was required to publish certain information in respect of S106 and CIL amounts collected.

The Infrastructure Delivery Team Leader briefly introduced the report, explaining that the London Borough of Bromley adopted the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on 15 June 2021. Consequently, CIL was not included in the report before the Committee, which covered the period up to April 2021.

Members noted that Section 106 funding was generally spent in accordance with legal agreements which specified how funds were spent.  The CIL was more fluid and could be applied to current need. 

In response to a question, the Infrastructure Delivery Team Leader confirmed that he had developed a good working relationship with the Clinical Commissioning Group and had engaged with the CCG to regarding use of S106 funding.

Cllr Joel requested that following the meeting further information concerning Farnborough Primary School be provided to him by email.

Cllr Bennington asked whether councillors could put forward individual projects to be funded by CIL. The Infrastructure Delivery Team Leader noted that it was up to the Council how CIL was spent and work was underway to establish a process for this. He noted that 15% of CIL was encouraged to be used for spending in neighbourhoods (usually aligned with priorities for Wards), with the remaining 85% focused on strategic infrastructure.

The Committee discussed the issue of carbon offsetting, noting that more funds had been received since the end of April 2021. It was suggested that some funds should be directed toward carbon management projects such as better insultation and heating systems.  The Council’s Energy Team were actively looking at spending Carbon Offsetting funds and a detailed breakdown of the current measures would be provided to Members following the meeting. The Committee noted that carbon offset was an established policy in the London Plan, although there was an increasing move towards onsite emission reduction. Investigations could be made into establishing a Council Policy through the Local Plan, which would require local evidence.

In response to a question, the Infrastructure Delivery Team Leader explained that Officers did not anticipate significant amounts of CIL coming through until 2023. However, where Members were able to identify specific projects associated with developments, these should be raised with the relevant service department.

RESOLVED: That the Infrastructure Funding Statement at Appendix 1 of the report be approved, noting that it will be published on the Council’s website by 31 December 2021 to comply with the requirements of the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended).