Redbridge Council is set to expedite development projects by streamlining the decision-making process for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) relief. The move, approved at a recent cabinet meeting, aims to reduce delays and encourage development in the borough. The changes are expected to have an immediate effect, allowing developments that have been granted CIL relief to begin construction sooner.
The change in governance delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place, Communities and Enterprise, in consultation with Councillor Vanisha Solanki, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, to make CIL relief decisions for amounts over £250,000. In making these decisions, the Executive Director and Councillor Solanki will adhere to the criteria outlined in the CIL Regulations. This departs from the previous protocol, which required Cabinet approval for such sums, a process that could take more than three months.
The change is expected to expedite the process for developments seeking CIL relief, particularly larger-scale projects with relief amounts exceeding £250,000, including those providing social housing.
The report presented to the cabinet noted that the council's existing constitution imposed a financial limit on officer approvals, necessitating Cabinet involvement for sums exceeding £0.250m. This process was deemed resource-intensive and caused significant delays in approving valid CIL relief decisions. The agenda for the meeting and the public reports pack are available online.
