BUDE-STRATTON Town Council brought the community infrastructure levy (CIL) up for discussion at their recent full council meeting.

On Thursday, February 2, town councillors discussed the latest CIL consultation document. The CIL was introduced by the Planning Act 2008, as a way to ‘help deliver infrastructure to support the development of the area’.

Town councillors were presented with the consultation document, and were able to offer comments and a response on behalf of the council.

Cllr Paul Tilzey started the discussion by saying: “This should be consistent and the same throughout Cornwall. They’re spending millions of European money down Cornwall, so it should be the same for everyone — it’s still not fair.”

Cllr Frank Partridge added that some of the proposals within the document seemed ‘ambiguous’.

There was also added confusion amongst the table.

Cllr Peter La Broy said: “Is there an additional charge for development? I don’t really understand. What worries me — it’s a bit like Trump’s wall in Mexico — it will have a knock-on effect of raising prices, especially housing prices, and that’s the last thing we want.”

The confusion seemed persistent throughout the discussion. Finally, Cllr Julia Bryson put a proposal to the council. She said: “We just don’t know enough; there’s not enough information.

“I propose that the council thinks this is too complicated and incomplete-a-document to formulate a worthwhile response.”

Cllr Partridge seconded this proposal, and all were in favour.