Agenda and draft minutes

None.

To agree as a correct record the minutes from the meeting held on 16 October 2023 (to follow).

The minutes of the previous meetings held on 6 October and 16 October 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Members should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100b(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was no urgent business.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

There was none.

There was none.

The Chair explained this item would be covered under item 12 on the agenda.

The Chair explained this item would be covered under item 12 on the agenda.

The Chair explained this item would be covered under item 12 on the agenda.

The Chair explained this item would be covered under item 12 on the agenda.

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The Senior CIL Monitoring Officer introduced the item and explained within the Panel’s agenda packs, they had a copy of the current CIL Governance and Spending document for 2023 and the first draft of the proposed CIL Governance and Spending document for 2024.

She went through the amendments which had been made on the draft CIL Governance and Spending document for 2024. She explained to the Panel all amendments within the document had been highlighted in boxes. A copy of the draft CIL Governance and Spending document for 2024 is attached.

She explained she had updated the Funding Streams and amalgamated Central Government to include Infrastructure Bank and removed the LEP.

A new heading had been included which was ‘How CIL is proportioned and allocated’ and the Senior CIL Monitoring Officer explained this would help identify how the CIL would be split before the funds go into the infrastructure fund.

The Chair raised a question in relation to the 5% retained by the Borough Council and asked whether the 5% was a statutory figure and it was confirmed as such by the Senior CIL Monitoring Officer.

The Senior CIL Monitoring Officer explained a new section had been added which included definitions on what infrastructure was, what would be considered as infrastructure and what was not infrastructure. She explained this had been added based on the comments received from the CIL Spending Panel and reminded the Panel they wanted more specific information in relation to infrastructure as they felt the definitions were not clear enough.

In response to questions raised by Councillor Joyce, the Senior CIL Monitoring Officer explained the ‘What is Infrastructure’ was based on the regulatory statement within the CIL regulations. The Chair highlighted the questions which were raised by Councillor Joyce in relation to whether social services and flood defence were included under infrastructure, were included within 2.0.3 of the draft CIL Governance and Spending document 2024.

In response to a question raised by Councillor Sandell, the Senior CIL Monitoring Officer confirmed the infrastructure levy was designed to support the infrastructure and explained if they had an area with no new development, they would not be entitled to apply for CIL funding unless it benefitted the wider community.

Councillor de Whalley stated that he felt the Planning Act 2008 was not clear and explained the importance of the CIL Spending Panel making it clear on what they could and could not accept as CIL infrastructure within their CIL Governance and Spending Document 2024.

The Senior CIL Monitoring Officer highlighted to the Panel that the section had been included to try to define what infrastructure was to make it clearer for the Panel, Members and applicants. She explained under 2.0.11, the Non Infrastructure Projects related to sundry items, miscellaneous small items or works which would not fit within the definition of infrastructure.

Councillor de Whalley continued to raise concerns and advised he remained unclear on what  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

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The Senior CIL Monitoring Officer introduced the item and went through the amendments which had been made on the Online CIL Application Form. She explained to the Panel all amendments were highlighted in boxes. A copy of the Online CIL Application Form is attached.

She explained Audit recommended to have tick boxes to enable Officers to run reports based on the percentage of applications and would identify what project match funding there would be, and she added this would give them an idea of what funding options are available.

On page 5 of the Online CIL Application Form looking at the Local & Community Support, Audit recommended again tick boxes be included to make it easier for Officers to run reports off on what kinds of support they have and have included a box where they can provide further detail. The Senior CIL Monitoring Officer commented that the form was more in depth.

In response to comments raised by the Chair, the Senior CIL Monitoring Officer confirmed if there was anything else which the Panel wished to include on the list, could be included within the Governance Document or the Application Form.

In response to questions raised by Councillor Joyce, the Senior CIL Monitoring Officer explained she had spoken to Audit, and they advised that if there was Councillor support, that it would be 1 point irrespective of if they were a Ward, Borough or Parish Councillor.

Councillor Joyce raised concerns in response and commented that Gaywood North did not have a Parish Council which he felt was unfair. The Chair shared Councillor Joyce’s concerns.

The Assistant CIL Monitoring Officer explained whilst Gaywood North did not have a Parish Council, it did not specify that the Borough Councillor had to be their Ward Councillor, any Borough Councillor could support it. The Planning Control Manager added they would look at the criteria in the round and would be looked at across the board and highlighted it was not the determining factor.

Councillor de Whalley commented that there were a number of unparished areas including King’s Lynn and suggested that KLACC be given equal weight as a Parish Council if they chose to support for CIL. The Senior CIL Monitoring Officer advised if they received support from KLACC or from any other organisation, it would be treated the same as any other type of support. The Chair explained that he expected Members of the Panel to draw it to Officers attention if they felt there was an area which had been disadvantaged.

The Senior CIL Monitoring Officer highlighted on page 7 of the Online CIL Application Form, additional information had been included and she explained Audit and the Panel asked for additional information to be submitted with an application, so they had included project plans, drawings and quotes and she highlighted this was statutory for applicants to complete.

She reminded the Panel they wanted more detail in relation to expenditure and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To be arranged.

March 2024. The exact date to be agreed.