Let boroughs set their own CIL level, says London body

05 November 2009

London Councils has warned that local authorities in the capital could miss out, should the community infrastructure levy favour the mayor’s office over boroughs.

The organisation has suggested that councils should be allowed to set their CIL at a level appropriate with the needs of each individual borough before the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, could tailor his own element of the levy.

However, under the current proposals, the mayor does not have to take into account the needs of the individual councils when setting his levels for the levy. The boroughs will also be required to collect on behalf of the mayor, regardless of whether they choose to implement the charge themselves.

London Councils has called for assurances that authorities will not have to fund the collection of the mayoral CIL. Last month, the organisation proposed that the mayor’s levy should be limited to fund Crossrail in the first instance, until the £300m contribution required had been raised (Surveyor, 16 October).

Cllr Chris Roberts, London Councils’ executive member for planning, said: ‘Boroughs must not lose out financially as a result of having to collect the mayor’s CIL, and we urge the mayor to work with alongside them to ensure the maximum benefit for all Londoners.’

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