I’ve just received an email from WBC for a consultation on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) that I would encourage residents to look at. The site for the information on the CIL is here – http://www.woking2027.info/infrastructure

and WBC information page is here – http://www.woking.gov.uk/planning/policy/ldf/cil

The letter is as follows –

Dear Sir or Madam,

CIL Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule Woking Borough Council has decided to adopt Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) as its primary means for securing developer contributions towards infrastructure provision in the Borough. CIL is a standardised levy that is charged to new development for the purposes of raising funds to deliver infrastructure to support new development. The provision of infrastructure has implications for people who live and work in and visit the Borough. In this regard, the Council values your involvement to ensure that the rates set for the Charging Schedule are set at the right level.

A key stage towards the adoption of CIL is the publication of a Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule for consultation. Your views are therefore being sought on all aspects of the Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule to enable the Council decide whether the rates are set at reasonable levels.

The consultation period is between 15 February and 2 April 2013 and you are encouraged to send any representations that you may have.

The Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule is available for inspection at the following venues:

Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square,Woking, GU21 6YL. Monday to Friday 9am – 4.45pm.
Woking, Byfleet,West Byfleet and Knaphill libraries. Please see www.surreycc.gov.uk for address and opening times of the libraries.
On the Council’s website www.woking.gov.uk

Comments can be e-mailed to planning.policy@woking.gov.uk or posted to: The Planning Policy Team Woking Borough Council Civic Offices Gloucester Square GU21 6YL

If you have any questions on the Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Planning Policy Team on 01483 743871.

The Council has also published a number of documents that has been used as evidence to inform the Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule. This includes:

· Community Infrastructure Levy Viability Study;
· Community Infrastructure Levy – Topic Paper on Infrastructure Funding Gap;
· Map illustrating where differential charging rates will apply; and
· Strategic Environmental Assessment – Draft Screening Statement.

Copies of these documents can also be inspected at the deposit venues set out above and on the Council’s website.

Next stages of the adoption process
Your comments on the Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule will be analysed and taken into account in preparing a Draft Charging Schedule. There will be a further opportunity for you to comment on the Draft Charging  Schedule before it is submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination.

Comments received at this stage together with the Draft Charging Schedule will be submitted for Independent Examination sometime at the beginning of 2014. Subject to the recommendations of the Inspector, it is anticipated that the Charging Schedule will be adopted by April 2014.

It is important to note that until CIL is adopted, the Council will continue to use Planning  Obligations to secure developer contributions.
Yours sincerely,
Ernest Amoako
Planning Policy Manager
For further information please contact Ernest Amoako on 01483 743427 (Direct Line) or
Email ernest.amoako@woking.gov.uk
CIL Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule Letter