Builders may swap payments to Shropshire Council for halls
Developers can now provide village halls and community buildings instead of making direct Community Infrastructure Levy payments to Shropshire Council.
The council's cabinet has agreed the new policy which will allow developers to offer "payment in kind" as opposed to direct financial payments to the authority.
Councillor Malcolm Price, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for planning, said the new scheme would be positive for local communities.
He said: "Where a local community wants a new community centre and a developer is building a housing site the developer could come and help to provide that community centre."
The councillor, who represents the Battlefield ward in Shrewsbury, also said that there would be circumstances where developers are better placed to provide facilities that communities want.
He said: "I think there are some occasions where a developer can do more themselves than we could do."
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge placed on new developments which is then used to fund new projects across the county.
Under the scheme a total of £6,326,884 has been raised from its introduction in January 2012, to March this year.
A percentage of CIL payments is handed over to local councils, 15 per cent where there is no neighbourhood plan, and 25 per cent where a plan is in place.
Councillor Alan Mosley, who represents Castlefields and Ditherington in Shrewsbury, pressed the cabinet member on who would have the final decision on whether to accept payment in kind – Shropshire Council or parish and community councils.
Councillor Price said: "Just because the developer wants to do it does not mean we will accept it. It is down to our consultations with parish and community councils."
He added: "We cannot do anything in isolation. The final say will come from Shropshire Council and that is correct but I am not aware of any situation where we have been in disagreement with town and parish councils over what is wanted."
A paper prepared on the proposal stated: "The aim is to provide as flexible and responsive an approach, as possible, to infrastructure delivery, aimed at saving the council both time and money." It also outlined that any proposals for payment in kind will not be accepted if they result in "unsustainable revenue costs".
