Decision details

Approve the awards recommended for 2019 S106 Community Facilities funding subject to business case approval and signed grant agreements.

Matter for Decision

The Council uses S106 contributions paid by developers to mitigate the impact of developments on facilities and amenities in Cambridge. In line with the arrangements for the Community Facilities S106 funding round 2019, agreed by the Executive Councillor on 21st March 2019, applications have been invited for proposals to improve community facilities in Cambridge. Five applications have been received and assessed against the S106 selection criteria. This report summarises those applications and assessments and makes five recommendations for S106 funding.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

       i.          Agreed the following S106 Community Facility grants and funding, detailed in Section 3 and Appendices 1 and 2 of the Officer’s report, subject to:

·       planning and building control requirements being satisfactorily met;

·       business case approval;

·       signed community grant agreement, securing appropriate community use of the facilities; and

·       any other conditions highlighted in the report.

     ii.          Allocated up to £55,000 of existing generic S106 contributions for the development of a community room as part of the nursery building on the 75 Cromwell Road development, as detailed in paragraph 4.2.

   iii.          Requested officers to review and report back to this Committee any of these S106-funded projects which do not progress to the implementation stage within 18 months.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Community Funding and Development Manager.

The Community Funding and Development Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          The purpose of S106 was not to plug gaps but to help the city council target areas where extra investment was needed to improve facilities.

     ii.          Officers were looking for opportunities to enhance facilities where developments were coming forward in the city, particularly if there were gaps in facility provision.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.