TOWN councillors backed a proposal to call for a community levy on developments to be introduced in the county.

Jane Roberts proposed the motion to Ross-on-Wye Town Council this month to call upon Herefordshire Council to proceed as quickly as possible with the implementation of a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Councils in England have been able to introduce a CIL since 2008. A CIL is different to Section 106 monies in that it is levied on a much wider range of developments and according to a published tariff schedule.

Julian Utting said he supported the motion as he said the town council currently loses out on 106 monies.

He said: "This will grant the power more in this town council to actually spend any CIL money that is due from developments that has been granted."

He said money could be spent on projects like the Rope Walk.

Herefordshire Council has paused the process by which CIL can be levied in the county, which Councillor Roberts said deprives town and parish councils of this potential income.

Coun Roberts said most neighbouring authorities have introduced the levy.

Chairman Harry Bramer read a letter from a senior town planner for the county council, which said the decision to pause the levy was taken in 2016. He said this was because the government did an independent review of CIL and, at the time, CIL was uncertain.

He said the CIL is still to be determined by the government.

But he said this does not mean 106 monies have not been collected and allocated. S106 contributions remain the primary means to ensure that developments pay for infrastructure that supports them but not all developments have to pay S106 contributions.

Councillor Bramer said other councils implemented CIL before 2016.

Even if CIL was implemented, section 106 monies will continue. Herefordshire Council would decide which development will have CIL applicable and which 106.

The motion to call urgently for CIL to be introduced was fully supported by the town council.