Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the interim head of development and regeneration. 

Cabinet considered the report of the interim head of development and regeneration.  This set out a review of community infrastructure levy spending and sought approval of a revised spending strategy. 

The options open to Cabinet were to:

1.    consider options used at other authorities;

2.    allow the strategy to remain in its original state; and

3.    adapting the existing strategy to make it more versatile. 

The Cabinet member proposed the third option, with the approach to build on the understanding gained from operating the existing strategy in South Oxfordshire and adapting this.  Cabinet wished to extend the opportunities so that community infrastructure levy funding could be used to deliver the council’s priorities and provide new facilities in response to the demands placed on the district by new development.  The council’s allocation of funding could be directed towards existing council-owned infrastructure, providing that it was spent in accordance with community infrastructure levy regulations, along with any new infrastructure projects. 

The key changes proposed to the strategy were:

·         extending the council’s own funding parameters, so that it could effectively respond to priorities in the council’s Infrastructure Development Plan and its new Corporate Plan;

·         minor amendments to the allocation of community infrastructure levy funding with 50 per cent to Oxfordshire County Council (to support transport, education, libraries and household recycling centres), with the introduction of an application deadline to encourage timely use of available funding, and to provide details of projects in time for the budget setting process.  Further geographical flexibility could also be
considered at this council’s discretion for education projects in exceptional circumstances, such as for special educational needs and disabilities schools;

·         20 per cent to support healthcare (widening this to other organisations, including the council, as well as the local clinical commissioning group) with ongoing discussions with the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group on identifying suitable projects for funding alongside exploring other options for delivering health care infrastructure;

·         30 per cent retained by South Oxfordshire District Council but removing the percentage split (currently set at 20 per cent leisure, 5 per cent green infrastructure, 2.5 per cent public art and 2.5 per cent public realm) so that any service could request use of funding for a wider range of projects in line with the Corporate Plan themes and the council’s Infrastructure Development Plan;

·         widening the geographic area where funds could be spent to provide more flexibility in funding projects across the whole of South Oxfordshire;

·         allowing the use of community infrastructure levy funding across the district boundary for projects in the Didcot Garden Town area;

·         widening the use of funds to enable spending to improve and maintain existing infrastructure, as well as for new infrastructure, provided it supported development; removing the Regulation 123 list and current pooling restrictions, as this was no longer a requirement under the regulations;

·         continuing to develop and improve partnership working with parishes to ensure effective use of both district and parish community infrastructure levy funds in areas affected by new development.

Cabinet supported the revised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48