CUTTING DOWN OUR VITAL CIL!

Today, Cllr. Graham Williamson writes in the Havering Daily – I warned last month via the Havering Daily that the Labour Government’s ‘Homes for London’ Emergency proposals would be damaging for Havering. 

CUTTING DOWN OUR VITAL CIL!

Those proposals would potentially reduce the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) paid by developers, by up to half for any scheme that obtains approval over the next four years (at least!), loosening some of the standards and allowing the Mayor of London (and no doubt all elected English Mayors) to call-in any scheme of over 50 properties instead of 150 that the Council is minded to refuse.

MILLIONS COULD BE LOST

Ultimately, this will cost our Council millions of lost revenue that we use to support new and existing residents ‘infrastructure’ e.g. medical or social. Many residents are skeptical of development for various reasons, the main one being a lack of such infrastructure so this decision will feed into that discontent. The trigger to reduce a CIL contribution is the provision of 20% Affordable housing which is underwhelming since up to now developers were expected to deliver at least 33%.

DESPERATE ATTEMPT

The reason this is occurring is due to the Government’s desperate attempt to see 1.5m new homes built within their term and believe that developer’s financial obligations need to be reduced to encourage them. The real problem is the economic environment is challenging i.e. building homes is not particular profitable at present due to high construction and regulatory costs. In response to the Government’s consultation suggestion of reducing developers costs we said that should fall to the Government to subsidies them NOT the Council. They haven’t listened nor tried to justify their policy.

CALL THEM OUT

Council’s have been saddled with greater obligations but declining financial support by Government(s) for many years. This is a further insult to injury and needs to be called out. Local people’s needs should not be sacrificed by national political interests or policies. Readers should feel free to share this news.  

Residents Association Councillor for South Hornchurch & Cabinet Lead for Regeneration, Graham Williamson 

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