At this month’s full council meeting, Cllr. Tim Thomas (Ind, St. Bride’s Minor & Ynysawdre) asked for information on the delivery of Section 106 funded projectsand how many delays there’ve been.
Section 106 agreements require developers to fund certain infrastructure or services as a planning condition. These include things like playground upgrades, sports pitches, road improvements and school expansions.
Cllr. Thomas said feedback from the public and other councillors suggests many areas haven’t benefited from Section 106, or work simply hasn’t been completed. Given these concerns, would the Cabinet commit to a review and audit of the funding?
Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Regeneration, Cllr. Neelo Farr (Lab, Porthcawl East Central), accepted the idea of a review in principle.
Director for Communities, Janine Nightingale, told the chamber that officers regularly review Section 106 agreements, which often can only be spent in a particular way in a specific area.
Throughout the current Local Development Plan (LDP), around £116 million of Section 106 funding is expected.
A dedicated officer will be appointed to work on these agreements. The aim is to publish annual infrastructure plans – the first of which may be published this autumn. These plans will list what Section 106 agreements are in place during the year and how BCBC intends to spend the money.
