Issue - meetings

The committee is requested to note the contents of this report concerning section 106 agreements nearing their expenditure date (as set out in Appendix 1) and to raise any concerns.

Mrs Dower presented the report. Mrs Peyman attended to answer questions on the S106 payments relating to leisure initiatives.

The reports outlined those contributions which required additional monitoring as they were due to reach their target date within the next two years or were now overdue.

Mrs Peyman gave an update on leisure contributions where progress had been made since publication of this agenda and these had been reported back to the portfolio holder and the ward members.

The committee made the following comments and received answers to questions as follows:

·       Mr Oakley asked whether the actual figures incorporated interest earned on those monies or whether they were the original contribution figures. These funds were invested whilst they were waiting to be spent and the interest earned was put back into the pot so the communities benefited from the interest earned. Mrs Dower undertook to update the committee on this. [Post meeting note: The interest is allocated to the S106 specific purpose i.e. affordable housing, leisure etc. but not to the individual schemes. The interest earned will be allocated to the individual schemes to ensure that the responsible officer is aware of these funds available for their schemes.]

·       Land at Windmill Park, Halnaker – This funding allocated to the Boxgrove Sports Pavilion project was past the notional expiry date and had been delayed as the community was looking to attract additional funding to progress the project. The return of these funds would be dependent upon the developer making a request however the position was strong as the funds had been allocated.

·       Queried the difference between S106 funding and CIL. S106 funding was to do with mitigating the impacts of individual planning applications and would reduce over time. Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding related to the effects of cumulative development. The annual S106/CIL report to the committee in June each year reported on both sets of funding.

·       Queried the spend of funds on King Edward VII. It was understood that the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) had a sum of money which they would release to us when the council had put forward appropriate projects on which the money could be spent. An update would be provided to the committee. [Post meeting note: There are two S106 agreements in respect of King Edward VII – one is in connection with a primary school therefore the money would go to WSCC as education authority; the other is in relation to affordable housing in the sum of £800,000 however the trigger for us to start receiving it is 2020.]

RESOLVED

That the contents of this report concerning section 106 agreements nearing their expenditure date be noted.