URL: https://meetings.westoxon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=444

Decision Maker: Executive, Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: Councillor Hugo Ashton, Executive Member for Planning, introduced the item, the purpose of which was to consider the formal approval of the District Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule following independent examination.   Councillor Ashton explained the process that had taken place for the schedule to reach this stage. This process had included consultation and independent examination. Minor amendments had been made to the schedule following examination, including a reduction in CIL for developments over 250 homes, otherwise it had been approved by the examiner. Councillor Ashton noted that one of the advantages of CIL was that it would apply to smaller developments that did not attract S106 contributions. CIL therefore allowed the cumulative impact of developments to be considered, with a proportion of the contribution being transferred to the host town or Parish Council. The next stage was for Council to approve the schedule on 1 October 2025. A proposed effective date for the schedule to come into effect on applications was 31 January 2026   Councillor Ashton proposed accepting the recommendations of the report.   Councillor Graham seconded the proposal and noted that CIL added a further layer of contributions from developers which would give local councils influence on what contributions were used for such as localised projects.   This was voted on and approved unanimously.   RESOLVED: That the Executive: Note the content and recommendations of the independent examiner’s report attached at Annex A, including the modifications (EM1 and EM2) which have been recommended in respect of the CIL Charging Schedule attached at Annex B; Recommend to Council that the Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule attached at Annex B be formally approved with an effective date of 31 January 2026 in accordance with Section 213 of the Planning Act 2008. Recommend to Council that authority be delegated to the Head of Planning to further progress work on the draft CIL Implementation Plan in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning.

Date of Decision: September 10, 2025