WODC set to make changes to CIL

At a meeting of West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) last week, it was decided to look at using a zero rate Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for strategic sites Witney east and north, east Chipping Norton, west Eynsham and Oxfordshire Cotswolds Garden Village.

Last month, this paper reported that WODC was looking to introduce CIL, a charge that may be levied on most forms of development to help fund infrastructure and support the growth of an area.

Currently, a different charge - section 106 - has been used.

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Luci Ashbourne, district and town councillor for Witney central, said: “Under the section 106 scheme, Witney, like many areas across Oxfordshire, has often experienced housing growth without the wider necessary infrastructure.

“With CIL we had hoped to see the opportunity for towns and parishes to be empowered to change that, making developer contributions more responsive to the needs of the whole community.

“It’s disappointing to see WODC throw in the towel on this more inclusive approach to growth so quickly.

“Local authorities must be robust in their negotiations with developers to ensure that housing growth contributes to thriving communities, not against them.”

However, WODC leader James Mills defended the move, which is set for a six week public consultation.

He said: “We build affordable, attractive, homes for local people, but new development puts demands on local services.

“Therefore, we make builders contribute to the cost of new schools, roads and so on.

“That is as it should be, but we have to get the balance right between what we demand and the quality and number of houses that builders are able to provide.

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“To do this means adjusting their contributions from time to time.

“If we don’t, fewer houses will be built.

“WODC is committed to providing good homes and services for as many local people as possible.

“As we discussed in a public cabinet meeting last week, too much taxation on housing providers will make our task more difficult to achieve

“A parish council may feel that they’re missing out but I don’t think that is the case as a final decision is yet to be made and people will have the opportunity to have their say.”

Merilyn Davies, an indepedent district councillor for Freeland and Hanborough, is concerned about the potential effect on her ward.

She said: “Residents of Long Hanborough know full well the cost of developments on our infrastructure and how little section 106 helps with improving buses or fixing roads.

“CIL was seen as the answer to this, allowing communities to directly fund infrastructure development, cutting through the red tape of section 106.

“Denying residents access to this is a betrayal of the people in West Oxfordshire and puts the profit of developers over people.

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“WODC should not be looking to other councils as an example of where CIL was not used, but look to those where it was, like Lye Valley and Oxford City Council.

“Those councils balanced section 106 with CIL payments thereby getting the best deal for their residents.

“That WODC has set CIL contributions at ‘zero’ across five strategic sites, without fully examining other options, benefits developers at the expense of the residents they represent.”

Richard Langridge, independent councillor for Witney north, added: “I think it’s an absolutely appalling decision which puts all the powers in the developers and residents get nothing from it.

“What made it much worse was that it was bounced on the council at the last minute.

“I think CIL is a potentially good thing if it gets the benefits of big developments.

“The needs of town councils, parish councils and local communities need to be met.

“I appreciate it’s a six week consultation period but I hope the council will listen.”

CIL was introduced with the Planning Act 2008 to help local authorities, with the purpose of the levy to ensure developers contribute to local infrastructure.

CIL allows local planning authorities to raise funds from developers who are carrying out building projects and can be used for improvements to local infrastructure such as roads and schools.