Meeting over student accommodation 'tax' held in private

[dutchman]

It is feared the city has missed out on huge amounts of cash



Pressure continues to mount for answers over fears Coventry has failed to recoup millions of pounds from student developers.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) has been a hot topic after a council meeting in March was told the city could have missed out on £2.7 million.

Councils have been able to charge a CIL to developers putting up new-builds since April 2010, but Coventry has yet to impose the scheme.

March’s meeting was told the authority did not have the staff to set the scheme up as, at the time, it was focusing on developing its Local Plan.

Questions have since been asked by the opposition group following fears Coventry had “missed the boat” while other councils brought in millions from CIL in the last six years to spend on public infrastructure such as roads, schools and health facilities.

Oxford City Council has gained £7.3m from student blocks while Bristol City Council raised £4.34m and Exeter City Council £3.38m.

When asked by Conservative Cllr Peter Male in June, deputy leader of the council Cllr Abdul Khan told full council he was “not satisfied” on the exact figure the council may have missed out on, but confirmed he would be chairing a committee “specifically looking into the benefits” of setting the scheme up.

At last week’s full council he was again asked by Cllr Male for an update from the meeting and for minutes of what was discussed.

Cllr Khan was originally unsure if the minutes were publicly published, but a council spokesman has since confirmed that the meeting did take place but was held in private behind closed doors, and that no minutes are publicly available.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service also asked for a copy of the minutes but the council has said they are not public.

Cllr Male, speaking at full council, said he was “totally confused” by responses given by Cllr Khan, adding CIL is “legitimate taxes that could be spent delivering services in this city”.

Cllr Khan responded: “At the moment we are considering a feasibility and the value of CIL in Coventry.

“We haven’t come to a conclusion, but when we do, you will be first to know.”

He was also asked by Cllr Julia Lepoidevin how long this would take, but he did not commit to a date.

[rebbonk]

Someone has something to hide!