RESIDENTS in Callington said they felt misled at a meeting with a representative from Cornwall Council last week, after hearing why a community benefit they believe was promised to them was significantly reduced.

Deputy senior legal officer at Cornwall Council Julian Kitto attended the town council meeting to explain to residents why a proposed benefit offer of £625,000, relating to the Haye Lane solar farm, was reduced to a one-off payment of £20,000.

The solar farm development was recommended for refusal by the town council but approved by Cornwall Council in 2011. Original applicant Sunpower had included in its promotional material a proposal to give £25,000 a year for the 25-year life of the farm to the town council for community benefit. But when new owner Inazin took over the application, it offered to provide a one-off payment of £20,000.

Mr Kitto told town councillors and members of the public that community benefit was not a material consideration when assessing planning applications.

He said: 'In many ways the council is in a relatively weak position in terms of securing community benefit. Looking back at this particular application, the council didn't receive a unilateral undertaking (a planning obligation) from the original applicants. The authority had no lawful reason to refuse the application. Obviously as things transpired Sunpower sold its interest in the site to another company, which said the previous benefit was no longer viable.

'If we had a unilateral undertaking in place, we would have been able to secure the money.'

Mr Kitto said such an undertaking was not something the council could initiate or be a part of.

He apologised for lack of consultation with the town council: 'We recognise that this situation is not ideal. We are desperate to get government guidance on the approach to community benefit and try to change the way we are operating. I've spoken to the planning officer concerned and agree it would have been better if after the first consultation with the new company, Cornwall Council had spoken to the town council. Even if we had no levers to increase the benefit, it would have been preferable to consult with you and we apologise for that.'

Cornwall Council member for Callington and chair of the town's planning committee Cllr Andrew Long said: 'If community benefit is of no planning consideration why is it given to councillors? If they can't take it into account, why is it in the report at all? While it is in there it has the potential to lead someone to a certain decision. The community benefit was stated in all documentation, stated to councillors twice in committee meetings and at no point did anyone explain that it wasn't relevant, and your officers will stick it in all the paperwork right up until the last minute.'

Members of the public also aired their frustration stating that it seemed the community benefit was acting as a 'sweetener'. One man said: 'You're not allowed to bribe the community and that is exactly what this came down to.'

Cllr Jeremy Gist said: 'When I first came on the planning committee 30 plus years ago, community benefit was called bribery and corruption. Many of the community benefits promised all over the country will disappear as quickly as the sales person that is trying to flog it.'