Agenda and minutes

To note the appointment of Councillor June Baxter as a Conservative Group representative on the Panel in place of Councillor Susan Hall and Councillor Paul Osborn as a Reserve.

RESOLVED:  That the appointment of Councillor June Baxter as a Conservative Group representative on the Panel in place of Councillor Susan Hall and Councillor Paul Osborn as a Reserve be noted.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2017 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2017, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 49 (Part 4D of the Constitution).

Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received.  There will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the asking and answering of public questions.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, 9 November 2017.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions, petitions or deputations were received at this meeting.

Report of the Divisional Director, Regeneration and Planning.

The Panel received a report which provided a background to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which was introduced by the Planning Act 2008.  Consideration was given to the CIL receipts, received and projected, from new development in the borough, the criteria for their distribution and the allocation for boroughwide and neighbourhood portions.

An officer introduced the report and informed the Panel that, in accordance with the regulations, at least 15% of the CIL funds received had to be spent on projects that took account of the views of the communities in which development had taken place and that supported the development of the area in which the CIL had been generated.  The percentage was 25% if there was a neighbourhood plan or a neighbourhood development order.

Particular attention was drawn to:

·                     the broad allocation of Neighbourhood CIL would be agreed as part of the capital programme;

·                     the proposed timetable for implementation;

·                     the allocation of Neighbourhood CIL to specific projects would follow the same process as for past community engagement schemes.

Members considered the proposed approach to allocating Borough CIL and the geographic options for allocating Neighbourhood CIL together with potential project-specific criteria for the allocation of CIL.

In response to questions, the Panel was informed that:

·                     the government envisaged neighbourhood CIL schemes would be initiated and implemented using current processes.  Ward member involvement would be similar to how ward projects had been initiated in the past with the assistance of the Community Engagement Team.  With regard to the ‘pooled’ Opportunity Area funds, Members from all relevant wards would be involved;

·                     failure to spend CIL could result in it being clawed back after five years;

·                     capital programme bids for the 2018/19 financial year were currently being assessed for potential borough CIL funding;

·                     match funding, an incentive for the community to work together, was one of the financial criteria available for consideration;

·                     developers would be unable to avoid CIL payments by submitting two smaller planning applications as it applied to any new residential unit regardless of size.

A Member suggested that it would be useful for budget lines in the capital programme to indicate which elements of the capital programmes were directly funded by CIL.  The officer stated that whilst the exact format was to be determined finance colleagues currently indicated external funding, which would include CIL.

With regard to consideration of bids from external providers, such as NHS and TfL, the officer stated that this was possible under the Regulations and health and emergency services could be considered for funding, if the Local Authority so decided.  The mechanism for inviting external bids had not yet been considered in detail.  Discussions with external providers took place as part of the infrastructure delivery plan and they were aware of CIL.

A Member stated that currently there were no neighbourhood plans in Harrow, although an application had been made for Harrow Hill. She enquired whether the process would ensure transparency of the funding received, how it was spent and any remaining funds.  The officer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

Verbal report

The Panel received an update on the major development projects in Harrow.

In response to questions from Members of the Panel, it was noted that:

·                     the GLA was expected to sign the section 106 Heads of Agreement for the Palmerston Road development shortly;

·                     the combined Cumberland Hotel and Victoria Hall development had been submitted to Planning. A contractor had been appointed, the same contractor as for Origin’s scheme on Northolt Road;

·                     it would be clarified whether the Harrow College/Brookshill application would be submitted to the Planning Committee in July 2018;

·                     it was hoped that the Grange Farm Estate application would be submitted to the Planning Committee in December 2017;

·                     the HZ - Council sites were progressing well with planning applications for the New Civic and Byron Quarter to be made in December 2017 except for the Poets Corner site which would be submitted in February 2018;

·                     liability for business rates would arise if the Kodak site was not cleared by March 2020;

·                     the reserved matters for the Harrow View East development would be considered by the Planning Committee given the scale of the development;

·                     due to phasing, completion of the new Civic Centre was required before Phase 2 of the existing Civic Centre site could be undertaken

A Member stated that the new housing requirement in the new London Plan for Harrow was expected to increase to approximately 1,400.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

RESOLVED:  That it be noted that no items were put forward by Members of the Panel.