Issue - meetings

Purpose: To consider extending the new homes bonus policy for another year, and whether to make an allocation of new homes bonus funding to Chinnor Parish Council towards the costs of a new community building in Chinnor (report attached)

RESOLVED: to

1. extend the current new homes bonus interim policy, agreed by Cabinet on 12 April 2012, for one further year (2013/14);

2. transfer the sum of £220,000 from the provisional to the approved capital programme for new homes bonus funding to Chinnor Parish Council for its new community building;

3. award £220,000 to Chinnor Parish Council towards the costs of the construction of a £780,000 community building in Chinnor, funded from the community element of the new homes bonus budget in 2013-14.

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Strategy that asked Cabinet to consider extending the new homes bonus policy for another year and to make an allocation of new homes bonus funding to Chinnor Parish Council towards the costs of a new community building in Chinnor.

In April 2012 Cabinet agreed an interim new homes bonus policy for 2012/13 and now considered extending it for one year whilst officers assessed the need to provide such funding following Government’s recent announcement that 25 per cent of the Community Infrastructure Levy would be paid to town and parish councils.  As the policy had provided income to support local communities that were accepting significant amounts of new housing, Cabinet agreed to extend the policy.

Noting the minimal risks of funding the project at Chinnor and that Chinnor’s application met the eligibility criteria, Cabinet agreed to fund the cost of a new community building in Chinnor.

RESOLVED: to

1. extend the current new homes bonus interim policy, agreed by Cabinet on 12 April 2012, for one further year (2013/14);

2. transfer the sum of £220,000 from the provisional to the approved capital programme for new homes bonus funding to Chinnor Parish Council for its new community building;

3. award £220,000 to Chinnor Parish Council towards the costs of the construction of a £780,000 community building in Chinnor, funded from the community element of the new homes bonus budget in 2013-14.