81 AN OVERVIEW OF SECTION 106 MONIES (0.58) PDF 125 KB
At the request of the Committee to receive a report providing an overview of the S106 process in collecting financial contributions from development via the planning system.
Minutes:
The Committee had before it and NOTED a report * from the Head of Planning and Regeneration. At their meeting on 12th September 2016, Members requested that a report be brought before them providing an overview of the S106 process in collecting financial contributions from development via the planning system.
The Head of Planning and Regeneration explained that the primary purpose of the planning system was to regulate the use and development of land in the public interest. The collection of financial contributions from development to be spent within the district could assist with the delivery of Corporate Plan priorities of community, housing, economy and environment.
The officer informed Members that changes introduced in April 2014 meant that a Local Planning Authority could no longer use planning obligations to pool more than five contributions for infrastructure by project or type. This had meant that the authority was no longer able to collect money for spending in a catchment area if 5 obligations had already been entered into by infrastructure type. The Planning Service was careful to monitor contributions to ensure that allocations were not exceeded.
Discussion took place regarding;
· The ability for the authority to borrow against the agreement until the money was received from the developer;
· The requirement for money to be spent on the project that it was collected for;
· The Garden Village bid and how this could potentially provide loan funding for a relief road at Cullompton if approved;
· The need to match the scale of the development contribution to the scale of the infrastructure in order to make most effective use of the five S106 obligations that are able to be pooled by infrastructure type or project;
· A specific agreement for a footpath that had not yet been provided and concerns that this would set a precedent;
· The process followed when a Section 106 agreement was changed and whether or not Town and Parish Councils should be consulted about this.
It was AGREED that the Chairman would write to the Chair of the Planning Committee to highlight the areas of concern raised regarding the footpath at St Aubyns Rise which was currently awaiting a report from officers to a meeting of the Planning Committee.
Note: - Report * previously circulated and attached to Minutes.