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Matter for Decision

Off-site S106 contributions paid by developers help to mitigate the impacts of their developments on local amenities. They are based on legal agreements and have to be used in line with official regulations. S106 funding availability is more limited than it once was and is unevenly spread across the city. Official regulations highlight the need to make a distinction between generic S106 contributions and specific ones. The Council uses ‘target lists’ as a starting point for negotiating play area and open space specific contributions.

 

The Officer’s report set out the process for future generic S106 funding rounds for play area and open space improvement projects.

 

Generic S106 funding rounds can only seek project proposals from wards where S106 funding is available locally.

 

The report also highlighted plans to commission a public art project close to Trumpington’s boundary with Petersfield and Coleridge, in order to make timely use of a nearby, time-limited public art contribution.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Streets and Open Spaces

Agreed:

       i.          The arrangements for annual, generic S106 funding round for play areas and open spaces as long as there is sufficient, generic S106 funding available (paragraphs 4.1-4.5 of the Officer’s report).

     ii.          That, where there is less than £10,000 of unallocated, generic play area and/or informal open space S106 funding available in a ward, this can be used to supplement spend on appropriate local projects identified for specific S106 contributions or via the Environmental Improvement Programme (for projects approved by the Executive Councillor for Streets and Open Spaces) (see paragraph 3.10 of the Officer’s report);

   iii.          To return decision-making over the use of generic play area and informal open space S106 funding to the Executive Councillor, while maintaining opportunities for all ward councillors to comment on proposals from their part of the city (see paragraphs 4.6-4.7 of the Officer’s report);

   iv.          To instruct officers to develop proposals for a public art commission (with a budget of between £50,000 - £75,000) in Trumpington ward or close to its boundary with Petersfield and Coleridge wards and report back to this Committee later in 2019 (see paragraph 4.8 of the Officer’s report).

    v.          To instruct officers to make all city councillors aware of the evidence-based target lists for play areas and open spaces that are used as a starting point for negotiating specific S106 contributions (see paragraph 5.7 of the Officer’s report).

 

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 Urban Growth Project Manager.

 

The Urban Growth Project Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          S106 funding contributions had to be used for its intended purpose. Monies could not be moved from one contribution type to another.

     ii.          As resources ran down, it was recommended to return decision-making over the use of generic play area and informal open space S106 funding to the Executive Councillor; alongside input from ward councillors, to make the best use of resources available to deliver projects.

   iii.          Funding would be allocated through steps set out on page 62 of the Officer’s report. Ward councillors were encouraged to comment on the proposals received (see page 64).

   iv.          Proposed to put information about s106 funding on the council website.

    v.          A clear relation would be maintained between S106 funding where it was from and where it would be  spent.

 

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.