RESOLVED:

1.    That the governance and allocation arrangements for the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund, as set out in Appendices A and B to the report, be approved.

2.    That the changes to the carbon offset collection process be noted; and the governance and allocation arrangements for the Carbon Offset Fund, as set out in the Appendix to the report, be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Housing presented the report which set out governance and allocation arrangements for both the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund and the Carbon Offset Fund.  In presenting the report, he highlighted that since 2014 the Council had collected £777,000.  He drew Members attention to the timetable for allocation set out in the report; the results of the consultation; and the proposed governance arrangements.  It was proposed that there should be an equitable allocation across the Borough, to address the areas of most need and contribute to the Community Plan priority to bridge the gap.  He stressed the key role which Councillors play in working with neighbourhoods to make improvements which are inline with residents’ priorities.

It was noted that the proposals related to the neighbourhood proportion of Merton CIL income, which was approximately 15% of the total income.  Under the CIL regulations, the Neighbourhood Fund, must be spent on local projects to support the demands of the area; and that ‘area’ was defined as the whole Borough.  In addition, the guidance stated that administrative cost of the governance arrangements should be proportionate to the level of receipts.

In considering the report, Cabinet Members sought clarification from officers on a number of issues.  It was noted that the amount of contributions to the Carbon Offset Fund not yet received related to development work not yet started.  Development must start within 3 years of planning approval, and the Carbon Offset Fund normally only applied to building refurbishments where it was not possible to achieve compliance with energy and carbon emission standards.  It was also noted that the proposals contained in the report did not fetter the Council’s discretion to allocate funding to the areas of most need.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the governance and allocation arrangements for the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund, as set out in Appendices A and B to the report, be approved.

2.    That the changes to the carbon offset collection process be noted; and the governance and allocation arrangements for the Carbon Offset Fund, as set out in the Appendix to the report, be approved.