Issue - decisions

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1)    Approve the Hillingdon Draft Charging Schedule (DCS) for public consultation in accordance with regulation 16 of the CIL Regulations and Section 212 of the Planning Act 2008.

2)    Delegates authority to the Director of Planning, Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, to make any essential minor modifications to the DCS prior to undertaking the public consultation.

3)    Note that any representations arising from the consultation will be reported back to the Cabinet, as well as any proposed changes to the DCS, prior to it being submitted for examination.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services introduced a report on proposed changes to the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy rates (CIL), to go out for consultation, including a forthcoming examination in public. The Cabinet Member highlighted its significance as a contributor to Council resources for borough-wide infrastructure provision. Despite specific Section 106 requirements for particular sites, CIL allowed for broader infrastructure projects.

The Cabinet Member pointed out that the current CIL rates revealed anomalies compared to when the rates were initially set, so adjustments were proposed to address these discrepancies, including provisions for charging data centres and film studios and updating charges for other development projects.

The Leader of the Council acknowledged the housing shortage in the Borough, and how the CIL aimed to provide additional funding for infrastructure to facilitate further housing and commercial development.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to continue to charge the current rates, but considered this would not align with the goal of optimising CIL funding in line with available evidence.