Agenda item

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Annual update on S106 Obligations for Royston and District.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the contents of the report titled Section 106 and Unilateral Undertakings be noted;

(2)       That a report shall continue to be presented to this Committee on an annual basis; and

(3)       That, other than where a contribution had been negotiated for a specific purpose or project, Ward Members of the area where the Section 106 Obligation or Unilateral Undertaking funding was generated and the Area Committee be consulted prior to funding being allocated away from that area or a village location to a town.  Members noted that the discretionary funds were rapidly diminishing and would not be replaced under current legislation and practice, as was set out in the report.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that there is a robust system for negotiating and managing Section 106 and Unilateral Undertakings, and to ensure that this was kept under constant review in order that this activity is managed in an appropriate manner.

Audio Recording – Start of Item – 49 Minutes, 45 Seconds

The Development and Conservation Manager thanked the opportunity to address the Committee.  Before he provided the Royston and District Committee with the annual update on the details of progress made on all Section 106 Obligations within Royston District during the last financial year 2018/19. The Development and Conservation Manager informed the Committee that the S106 Monitoring System was audited last year, and had been very thoroughly audited twice in the last 5 years.  He reported that there had been an extremely positive outcome and from this an Action Plan had been achieved and “Decisions” were on the website which would be  would be regularly updated.

The Development and Conservation Manager explained that unlike previous reports the format of the information presented had been changed to more accurately reflect the diminishing role of discretionary Section 106 funds, and the changing restrictions around the collection and distribution of funds.

The Development and Conservation Manager drew the attention of Members to the tables provided within the report highlighting the change of emphasis as follows:

·         Tables 1 and 1a Set out the details of all of the new Section 106 Obligations entered into between developers and the Council.

·         Table 2 Set out details of all payments received from developers relating to developments and earlier agreements and identified projects the money had been received for.

·         Table 3 Detailed all of the S106 funds allocated, but where projects had not been implemented.

·         Tables 4 and 5 Set out details of the funds that remained and not yet allocated for both Royston Town and Royston Rural Parishes.

The Development and Conservation Manager stated that the report set out the current position with respect to changing legislation, how future planning policy would perhaps reflect that, and outlined progress of a revised strategy to seek wider community and ward Member involvement in identifying relevant projects.

The Development and Conservation Manager also drew the Members attention to the table within the report a list of the remaining discretionary funds which had not been allocated under each category for Royston and Royston Rural Parishes.

The following Members asked questions and took part in discussions with The Development and Conservation Manager:

·         Councillor Ruth Brown

·         Councillor Tony Hunter

·         Councillor Gerald Morris

·         Councillor Carol Stanier

The Chairman thanked The Development and Conservation Manager for his very informative presentation and

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the contents of the report titled Section 106 and Unilateral Undertakings be noted;

(2)       That a report shall continue to be presented to this Committee on an annual basis;

(3)       That any Member of the Royston and District Committee with specific requirement of S106 detail contact The Development and Conservation Manager directly; and

(4)       That, other than where a contribution had been negotiated for a specific purpose or project, Ward Members of the area where the Section 106 Obligation or Unilateral Undertaking funding was generated and the Area Committee be consulted prior to funding being allocated away from that area or a village location to a town.  Members noted that the discretionary funds were rapidly diminishing and would not be replaced under current legislation and practice, as was set out in the report.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure that there is a robust system for negotiating and managing Section 106 and Unilateral Undertakings, and to ensure that this was kept under constant review in order that this activity is managed in an appropriate manner.