Agenda item

Mathieu Rogers, Head of Strategic Planning and Regeneration, was in attendance to answer Councillors’ questions in relation to the Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) 2023/24.

Members sought further clarification regarding air quality monitoring funding and enquired why there was an unused balance of £215,000 in the fund. It was explained that there was always a lag between money being received and services being able to pull together enough money to deliver a project. Money came in at different trigger points, but the Council had an obligation to spend it.

In respect of developer contributions towards affordable housing, Members enquired how the 23/24 figures compared to previous years. The Committee was informed that there had been a decrease in 106 and CIL contributions due to a reduction in major projects coming through the planning process. The affordable housing money was earmarked for the housing programme.

In response to further questions from the Committee regarding transparency, it was confirmed that the IFS was published online therefore was in the public domain. A link could be provided for Councillors.

Councillors noted that the report did not provide linkage between revenue generated and spend. This information had been requested on a number of occasions. The Select Committee had been reassured that a new system would provide this linkage, but it had yet to materialise.

In response to this it was confirmed that officers were uploading all the information onto a new system called Exacom. Approximately one third of the data had been reconciled to date and it was hoped that the Exacom system would be fully updated within a year.

Members also sought further clarity regarding the balance increase in Section 106 money over the course of the year, noting that officers had reported an opening balance of £25 million, with additional balances being added and a spend of £1.3 million. At the end of March 2024, the balance had been close to £29 million. Members sought further information regarding the potential risk of losing some of these funds due to time constraints.

It was explained that there were a number of reasons why money could not be spent straight away, such as the need for pooling and project development. However, Members were reassured that there was little risk of losing the money as officers prioritised projects near their expiry date. The Head of Strategic Planning and Regeneration advised Members that he would be reviewing the balances and would report back to the Committee at a future session.

Members enquired whether there was any leeway over the charging schedules for the CIL. Officers confirmed that Cabinet had approved a request to revisit the charging schedule, and the consultation process would be initiated in due course.

At the request of Councillors, it was agreed that the possibility of providing a high level breakdown of the £16 million of allocated balances and a further breakdown of the funding information by Ward would be explored further. 

Members sought clarity regarding the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and its impact on Hillingdon given the Government current stance on housing delivery targets. It was confirmed that officers had provided feedback to the Government re. the Council’s response to the consultation. Members heard that Hillingdon’s housing targets were set by the London Plan which would be updated in due course. A reduction in housing targets was not anticipated but officers agreed to check this and feed back to the Select Committee after the meeting.

In response to further questions from the Committee, it was noted that an organisation called Qualify Me organised the Council’s apprenticeships and construction obligations. They were a third-party contractor who brokered opportunities, worked with developers, ensured apprenticeship targets were met, and provided feedback to the Council. Regular updates were provided, and it was agreed that this information would be included in the more detailed IFS.

Under agenda item 5 it had been agreed that the drafting of the Residents’ Services Select Committee comments to be submitted to Cabinet in relation to the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2023/24 would be delegated to Democratic Services, in conjunction with the Chair and in consultation with the Labour Lead.

RESOLVED: that the Residents’ Services Select Committee:

1.    noted the contents of the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2023/24; and,

2.    agreed that the drafting of the Residents’ Services Select Committee comments to be submitted to Cabinet in relation to the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2023/24 be delegated to Democratic Services, in conjunction with the Chair and in consultation with the Labour Lead.