Agenda item - Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Bidding Cycle 2023/2024

The Executive are recommended to make the resolutions set out in the report at agenda item 8.

Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery)

The Executive RESOLVED:

I. To approve the allocation of Strategic CIL funding to the projects as set out in paragraph 7.24 of this report in the following areas:

a. Farnham (CIL Bid reference: 3; 7 & 11)

b. Cranleigh (CIL Bid reference: 12 &22)

c. Godalming (CIL bid reference: 4 & 13)

d. Haslemere (CIL bid reference 8)

e. Other (14 & 16)

Subject to the completion of the final relevant checks and the signing of funding agreements, the details of which are delegated to the Strategic Director in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery).

The Executive RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to Council:

I. To award £3,253,726.00 CIL funding to Surrey County Council for the Farnham Infrastructure Programme (Town Centre Improvement Scheme) to Council (CIL Bid reference 3), split equally across the financial year 2023/24 and 2024/25 (£1,626,863.00).

Cllr Liz Townsend, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Regeneration and Economic Development, introduced the report and advised that the recommendations had been altered to allow for respective Ward Members to recuse themselves during the consideration of recommendations within their Wards. Cllr Townsend:

· Thanked Officers and the Working Group for their preparation and deliberation, 22 submissions had been received, of which 2 were not valid

· Explained that one recommendation relating to the Farnham Infrastructure Programme would be for the Council to consider in accordance with the Constitution

· The total value of the bids was significantly greater than in previous cycles, and those recommended for approval were geographically spread across the Borough

Cllr Hyman, in attendance as Observer, had registered to speak in accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 5.6 a). Councillor Hyman expressed his:

· Disappointment in the progress of Surrey County Council’s proposed £250m Farnham Infrastructure Programme, which was meant to resolve Farnham’s traffic problems and improve air quality

· Concern that air quality modelling details had not yet been made public

· Concern that the modal shift and behaviour change anticipated to reduce traffic may not materialise.

Cllr Hyman sought assurance that the proposals would not worsen congestion and air quality.

Executive Members statements in response included:

· Surrey County Council had structured the delivery of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme over a significant number of years, and air quality monitoring had been factored into that

· Waverley Borough Council would continue to stress the importance of air quality monitoring in accordance with statutory obligations

· Traffic congestion was a complex matter which would also affect neighbouring wards

· Acknowledgment that the programme was just at the beginning, and would evolve and be delivered over a long period of time.

The Leader advised that Executive members’ would recuse themselves during the consideration of bids in their Wards, accordingly:

· Cllrs Fairclough, Merryweather, Mirylees and Murray recused themselves for the consideration of a), being Farnham Ward Councillors

· Cllr Liz Townsend recused herself for the consideration of b), being a Cranleigh Ward Councillor

· Cllrs Follows, Kiehl, Rivers and Williams recused themselves for the consideration of c), being Godalming Ward Councillors. Consideration of c) was chaired by the Deputy Leader, Cllr Fairclough.