The meeting of Waverley Council’s Executive on 17 December 2024 is set to include, amongst other things, a request from the Home Office to support a refugee family through the Afghanistan Relocation Assistance Programme, a report on a new enforcement policy for the Community Infrastructure Levy, and a request for additional funding for agency staff to cover vacant positions in the Planning Department.

Afghanistan Relocation Assistance Programme (ARAP) & Other Refugee Schemes - Extra Support from Waverley Borough Council

This item requests that the Executive agree to support an Afghan family through the Home Office’s ‘Find Your Own Accommodation’ pathway, which forms part of the Afghanistan Relocation Assistance Programme (ARAP). The family in question are relatives of an existing ARAP family currently residing in Waverley and have requested support in finding accommodation in the Borough.

The Home Office have launched a scheme called the ‘Find Your Own Accommodation’ pathway, which allows families already here in the UK living in temporary accommodation to find their own private rent accommodation with financial support from the local authority where they are currently residing. (ARAP Report)

The report notes the possibility of further requests for support from the Home Office to resettle refugee families in Waverley, either through the ‘Find Your Own Accommodation’ pathway or by working with Millennium East Management Solutions (MEARS)¹.

The report recommends that the Executive delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Community Services to make decisions on any future approaches.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL): Enforcement Policy

The Executive is being asked to approve a new enforcement policy for the Community Infrastructure Levy. The policy sets out how the Council intends to enforce the payment of CIL by developers, including the use of surcharges, stop notices, and other enforcement measures where necessary. The report also provides some background on the use of CIL by Waverley Borough Council since it was implemented in 2019.

Since its implementation, nearly £28m in CIL receipts has been collected in Waverley. Furthermore, nearly £65m has been granted by means of relief from CIL (self-build schemes including residential extension, annexes and self-build homes for residents and social housing relief and charitable relief for social housing providers and charitable trusts). (CIL Enforcement Policy Report)

Supplementary Estimates Request - Temporary Fees to 31/03/2025 & Planning Inquiry Costs

The final item is a request for two supplementary estimates to cover the cost of agency staff in the Planning Department and for professional representation at forthcoming Public Inquiries. The report notes that there is a national shortage of planning officers, which is impacting the Council’s ability to recruit permanent staff.

It is nationally recognised that the recruitment and retention of planning officers is at a critical low. This has created a reliance on temporary agency staff, some of which have been with us for more than a year. This has allowed them to gain knowledge and understanding of local policies and how to apply them. (Funding Request)

The report states that the Council is facing four planning appeals, all of which require professional representation from expert witnesses and Counsel. The report recommends that the Executive approves a supplementary estimate of £217,600 to cover the cost of agency staff and an additional £240,000 to cover the costs of professional representation at the forthcoming Public Inquiries.