The Portfolio Holder of the Development & Conservation Advisory Committee presented the report which set out the priorities within the annual Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS), and updated the committee on how recent developer contributions had been spent. The IFS was an annual requirement within CIL legislation, requiring the Council to set out the income and expenditure from CIL and s106 over the last financial year, and the types of infrastructure the Council intended to fund in the coming year. He advised that the  Development & Conservation Advisory Committee had considered in detail the IFS and supported the recommendations to Cabinet.

The officer outlined the evidence base considered in the formation of the proposed priorities. The emerging Local Plan was an important consideration, to ensure that growth was supported and the impact of new developments was considered. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) was also an important consideration. Statements based on ongoing engagement with infrastructure providers, as part of the Local Plan process, were produced in 2022 and 2023.

The proposed priorities for the coming year were largely unchanged, with some refinements based on ongoing engagement with infrastructure providers. These included more specific education and health & social care provisions, needed to support growth within the Local Plan. Members were reminded that the priorities within the IFS were not binding, but provided transparency to developers and communities regarding infrastructure-funding intentions.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved: That

a)      the criteria for prioritising infrastructure projects as set out below remain

·                        The project should fall within the infrastructure types/projects identified in the IFS report.

·                        The project has been identified in the IDP. (This ensures that the infrastructure prioritised supports the Local Plan).

·                        The project supports and is clearly related to proposed site allocations or new development in the District. There is a strong link between development and the proposed project.

·                        There is a strong social, environmental or economic justification for the proposed project.

·                        The project has not previously received CIL funding.

·                        The project has support from infrastructure providers.

·                        There is an existing need for the project, or it will be expected to be delivered within the next 5 years.

·                        That it is identified as having a critical or high need, where the project has to be delivered to support new development.

·                        There are no significant issues with funding or landownership.

·                        Where there is a clear plan as to how the project would be funded.

 and

b)    the specific projects and types of infrastructure recommended in paragraphs 21-33 of this report (Highways and Transport, Utilities, Health & Social Care, affordable housing, Corporate priorities, education, and broadband) be identified in the IFS as having a priority for full or partial funding.