Council sits on millions of developers' money that should be spent in community
THURROCK Council has given details of the 53 projects it planned to spend monies given to it to improve borough communities – but which it has not yet spent. It amounts to a cash hoard approaching £17 million.
Under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 contributions can be sought from developers who apply for planning permission for projects towards the costs of providing community and social infrastructure, the need for which has arisen as a result of a new development taking place. This funding is commonly known as 'Section 106'.
It is supposed to be a way of ensuring that new developments do not overwhelm local communities by bringing in now homes and residents without adding to the local infrastructure to support them.
However, the council has not been able to implement, for a variety of reasons, many of the projects it should have embarked upon.
In a response to a Freedom of Information request, the amount of money that has been committed under Section 106 Planning Obligations but not spent for the following years: has been detailed.
Response:
Unspent Committed at the end of the financial period:-2017/18 = £23,887,354
2018/19 = £22,976,4762019/20 = £19,836,597
2020/21 = £16,570,633 A breakdown for the past year shows the vast sums not spent that should have been. The link shows money (received under planning obligations) which was allocated by the authority but not spent during 20/21.
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