Policy on Public Realm Contributions from Developers

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Dear Comhairle nan Eilean Siar,
Please tell me
How much money your local authority has raised from Public Realm Improvement contributions in each of the last three years?
How is the money raised through Public Realm Improvement contributions spent? Is it spent locally in the areas in which the development is proposed, is it spent on public realm improvement projects on other areas within the local authority, or does it go into the general Council pot?
Are community groups like community councils for example consulted about how funds raised from public realm improvement contributions is spent?
What is the mechanism the local authority uses to gain Public Realm Improvement contributions from developers?
At what stage in the planning process is the level of Public Realm Improvement contribution agreed?

Yours faithfully,

John McEvoy

CNES FOI Team, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Dear John McEvoy

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CNES FOI Team, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Good afternoon,

Re: help desk request (ticket ref 2018101527000076)

Thank you for your recent request submitted under the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Nil in terms of Public realm contributions. 

Historically the WI Structure Plan (Dec 2003) had a policy on Developer
Consultation and Community benefit. It was two fold  seeking contributions
from major development ‘through negotiations’ but also  ‘the integration
of an element of art, sculpture, craftwork’ in important development
schemes to ‘be encouraged’.

The latter part on ‘public realm’ was not carried forward to the 2012 plan
or the emerging 2018 plan. 

The policy in the 2018 plan is:

Policy EI 12: Developer Contributions
The Comhairle may negotiate with developers a fair and reasonable
contribution towards infrastructure and/or services required as a
consequence of the proposed development. The contributions will be
proportionate to the scale and nature of the development (including
cumulative) and will be addressed through planning conditions or through a
legal agreement if appropriate.

Circular 3/2012 (national guidance) sets out principles to be adhered to
in seeking developer contributions.  
 

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Kind regards
Rebecca Macleod - CE

FOI Team
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Sandwick Road | Stornoway | Isle of Lewis |
HS1 2BW
Email: [Comhairle nan Eilean Siar request email]
Web: [3]http://www..cne-siar.gov.uk
Tel: 0845 600 70 90 (Extension 211222)

- John McEvoy wrote:
Dear Comhairle nan Eilean Siar,
Please tell me
How much money your local authority has raised from Public Realm
Improvement
contributions in each of the last three years?
How is the money raised through Public Realm Improvement contributions
spent? Is
it spent locally in the areas in which the development is proposed, is it
spent on
public realm improvement projects on other areas within the local
authority, or
does it go into the general Council pot?
Are community groups like community councils for example consulted about
how funds
raised from public realm improvement contributions is spent?
What is the mechanism the local authority uses to gain Public Realm
Improvement
contributions from developers?
At what stage in the planning process is the level of Public Realm
Improvement
contribution agreed?

Yours faithfully,

John McEvoy

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