Councillor Pat Hackett introduced a report by the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment that set out progress for securing developer contributions through the introduction of a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charge on new developments in Wirral.  Appended to the report were the Local Plan and Community Infrastructure Levy Economic Viability Study Interim Baseline Report and its three Appendices.

The Cabinet noted that the initial findings emerging from baseline economic viability testing indicated that there may be a potential opportunity to introduce a CIL levy, without undermining development viability, in some areas of the Borough and for some types of development, including housing and retail development. 

National policy expected CIL charges to be worked up and tested alongside the Local Plan for the Borough.  The report, therefore, sought the Cabinet’s endorsement for continuing work to secure the evidence necessary to support the introduction of a CIL charge and the development of a draft schedule of the charges which could be applied.  Once the work was complete, a further report would be presented for final approval by Members. 

Councillor Phil Davies stated that any opportunity to secure additional funding for infrastructure was worth looking into and there was a lot more work to be done before the Cabinet could embrace this initiative.  It was important to consider what other local authorities, particularly the neighbouring ones, did in relation to CIL.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the findings of the interim baseline economic viability study, attached to the report, as the basis for the further development of a potential charging schedule for a Community Infrastructure Levy for Wirral be approved;

(2)  the approach for preparing an updated Infrastructure Development Plan, with input from all Council Departments and Heads of Service and external infrastructure providers, as detailed in Section 5 of the report be endorsed; and

(3)  a draft schedule of charges, revised Infrastructure Development Plan, report of implementation costs and an up-to-date assessment of the impact on viability of future development be prepared, for the Council’s approval, once the content of the Core Strategy Local Plan has been approved.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham returned to the meeting.