Harrogate CIL, Mendip contract, MMF rules, Government cuts, Warwickshire procurement

Harrogate works on CIL
Harrogate Council is working on adopting a Community Infrastructure Levy from Summer next year. The authority has issued its draft charging schedule which includes per square meter rates of: £45 for Ripon City area residential developments; £85 for rest of district residential developments; £120 for retail warehouses; and £200 for supermarkets. Any CIL revenue will be kept in a separate fund and used to deliver infrastructure.

SEC ends year-long wait
US regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is to look at new rules for the money market fund industry next week. Among the proposals are those to change funds from Constant Net Asset Value pricing to Variable Net Asset Value. Any decision from Commissioners next week will have to be put to consultation and then subject to a second SEC vote. The draft proposals could aim mostly at prime funds, which are considered to be the most at risk to runs. The SEC has been working on ideas for the regulations for over a year.

Mendip District awards Capita contract
Mendip District Council has given a four-year customer services contract to the local government services arm of outsourcing company Capita. It will run from June. An existing 20-year revenue and benefits and IT and finance services contract with Capita brings in cost savings of £400,000 year on year according to the council.

Central cuts should not affect councils
Departmental cuts agreed this week should not affect local authority funding, according to government. Seven departments, including DCLG, will face cuts of 8-10% in 2015/16. Chair of the Local Government Association Sir Merrick Cockell said that ministers should look at how protected NHS and schools spend could be used, for example to help keep elderly people in their own homes or in early intervention programmes for children.

Warwickshire scoops procurement gong
Warwickshire County Council has won a best service award at the National Government Opportunities procurement awards. With partner Warwickshire Community Recycling the council was honoured for its household waste recycling centres, which were found to save money, promote sustainability and generate funds for work by voluntary groups.