Decision details

The Corporate Director – Environment and Community Services informed Cabinet Members of the consultation on the Draft Charging Schedule, the supporting Infrastructure Delivery Plan and the viability assessment for South Lakeland District Council’s emerging Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).  The report included the proposed Corporate County Council response to this consultation as an appendix and sought its endorsement.     

CIL was a per metre charge to be applied to development to fund infrastructure improvements.  The development of a CIL by SLDC was to be welcomed because it represented an appropriate means to deliver necessary infrastructure requirements, although it was noted that there would be a gap of £40 million to find from other as yet unidentified funding sources.

Notwithstanding this support, it was recommended that:

§                Following its adoption, the infrastructure schemes to be funded by CIL be frequently updated to reflect latest evidence of infrastructure priorities; and 

§                The charging rates for development should be kept under regular review to ensure it is most appropriate.

The report and supporting appendix had been informed by the inputs of corporate colleagues and Local Members, the views of whom were sought at a workshop following the meeting of South Lakeland Local Committee on 30 September 2014.

RESOLVED,    that

                           (1)       the strategic response outlined in this Report be agreed and to submit this together with the technical response contained in Appendix 1 and the Local Member comments in Appendix 2 to South Lakeland District Council to assist the further development of the Community Infrastructure Levy;

                           (2)       Cumbria County Council sign a joint statement of intent with South Lakeland District Council setting out how both Councils would continue to work together to identify, prioritise and fund the infrastructure necessary to support development proposed in the South Lakeland Local Plan.