Issue - meetings

To update the Scrutiny Commission on S106 contributions received and spent in the 2017 calendar year, the outcomes of the recent audit on S106 procedures, secured contributions for 2017, contributions currently held and contributions successfully requested.

Members were updated on the situation in relation to S106 monies received and spent during 2017.

Members were informed of the significant S106 monies which had been secured. In respect of education contributions, Members expressed disappointment about the content of the October 2017 report to the Cabinet at Leicestershire County Council which stated that the Borough Council had reduced contributions for education in favour of affordable housing, yet failed to mention this was only on a few schemes in favour of 100% affordable housing and that there had been several occasions where the authority had foregone affordable housing in favour of contributions to education. It was further noted that, when asked for comparative information about other districts, the County Council was unable to provide this. The Scrutiny Commission was extremely concerned about this lack of information available, particularly in light of the statements made in the Cabinet report. It was requested that the Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission writes to the Cabinet member to ask where the education contributions collected by the council had been spent.

It was acknowledged that the report to the Scrutiny Commission contained correct data about the significant education contributions collected by the council for the County Council, amounting to £7,432,424.14 over the last five years. A member commended this and requested that the report be sent to the parish councils to clarify this, as he had been subject to criticism from them following the County Council’s Cabinet report.

Concern was expressed that, when contributions to health, education and the police were collected, there was no feedback to show where, or even if, the money had been used. Members referred to the legal requirement to use the money in that particular area and wished to do further work in the future to encourage the recipients of the money to audit the use and report back.

RESOLVED –

(i)            A briefing note be sent to parish councils to confirm the level of contributions to education collected by this authority;

(ii)           A letter be sent on behalf of the Scrutiny Commission to the Cabinet member for education at Leicestershire County Council requesting a breakdown of where the contributions collected had been spent.