Following approval of Section 106 Portfolio of Works Cabinet Report  (Thursday 25^th November 2021), this report seeks to obtain further appropriate delegation to approve the spend, processes and resources required in connection with the delivery of the Section 106 schemes.

Cabinet members considered a report setting out an update on delivery of the Section 106 portfolio of works in relation to the decision taken by Cabinet in November 2021, and seeking further appropriate delegations to approve the spend, processes and resources required in connection with the future delivery of Section 106 schemes.

The cabinet member finance, corporate services and planning introduced the report and explained that this decision adds the contributions received since the last decision into the pipeline for delivery and delegates authority to the relevant directors for delivery of projects within the various categories of contribution received.

Cabinet members discussed the report and it was noted that:

•                the mitigation required for development sites should be considered as they are identified;

•                the local plan is in the process of being updated and it is important that communities respond to consultations to identify what is needed;

•                parish councils can update their wish lists to inform the contributions sought and infrastructure needs can also be recognised as part of the neighbourhood planning process;

•                the council has made changes to its financial rules so that it is able to deliver improvements alongside developments, rather than in arrears;

•                the webpages are being improved and updated to show more information and to make it easier to access than before;

•                the neighbourhood development process needs to strike a balance between satisfying growth needs with a single larger development which will generate contributions rather than multiple small sites which are below the threshold for contributions.

It was suggested and agreed that the delegation for public art contributions should sit with the service director communities as they are responsible for culture.

Group leaders gave the views of their groups. The improvements in the process were welcomed and the need to progress spend of contributions promptly and in consultation with communities was emphasised.

It was unanimously resolved that:

a)             Cabinet approves the implementation of the new delivery proposals, as set out in Section 106 Delivery Proposals, including the resources required, to spend all Section 106 developer income and future income received;

b)             The council scheme of delegation is updated to authorise the spend of section 106 monies and to delegate all operational decisions relating to the above recommendation in accordance with the table at appendix 1, with an amendment to delegate responsibility for public art planning contributions to the Service Director Communities.

The meeting adjourned at 4:47pm and resumed at 4:57pm.