Opposition calls for review of funding for Dudley projects

Dudley Council’s Labour Opposition has called for a review of how money provided by developers is allocated to projects in the borough.

The funding – known as the Community Infrastructure Levy - is a contribution that developers must make to the Council to support the overall costs of sustaining and improving the infrastructure in the borough and can be spent anywhere in the borough.

A report presented to Monday’s Cabinet proposed a range of projects that officers had assessed and recommended to the Cabinet for approval. However, members of the Council’s opposition, whilst not objecting to any of the projects proposed, expressed concerns about the process. Cllr Khurshid Ahmed, Shadow Cabinet Member for Regeneration said:

‘’CIL has been in for a relatively short time but the time is right to review how monies are allocated as I am concerned that officers are making recommendations for rubber stamping by a few senior politicians instead of consulting and engaging with a wider group of elected members’’.

Supporting Cllr Ahmed’s comments, Cllr Judy Foster, Deputy Leader of the Opposition added: ‘’A couple of these projects were submitted by the Council and are being assessed by the same people. Having no external scrutiny cannot be right."

She also raised concerns about the lack of Neighbourhood plans which were then leading to certain areas not receiving any money. Anger was expressed about the time it had taken for the Council to address this issue.

The ruling group has agreed to review the allocation process.