Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Development Management

Purpose of report

To seek approval of the Council’s Infrastructure Funding Statement 2024-25 for publication by 31 December 2025.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1           To approve the Infrastructure Funding Statement 24-25 at Appendix 1 for publication by 31 December 2025 subject to any final changes considered to be necessary by the Head of Development Management to secure accuracy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

Resolved

(1)            That approve the Infrastructure Funding Statement 24-25 be approved for publication by 31 December 2025, subject to any final changes considered to be necessary by the Head of Development Management to secure accuracy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

The Head of Development Management submitted a report to seek approval of the Council’s Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) 2024-25 for publication by 31 December 2025.

In considering the report, Executive members sought clarification as to why there were no funds in 2024/25 for green infrastructure and, in respect of  s106 obligations delivered, the annual variation between funds received and funds spent.

The Assistant Director Planning explained that the IFS gave a picture over a period of time. In particular for larger strategic developments, there were trigger points which may kick in over a period of years. It could therefore be some years before some of the triggers were reached and funds received and then a further period of time before funds were spent. The Assistant Director Planning undertook to liaise with the Head of Development Management who would provide a more response incorporating more detail behind the figures.

Resolved

(1)            That approve the Infrastructure Funding Statement 24-25 be approved for publication by 31 December 2025, subject to any final changes considered to be necessary by the Head of Development Management to secure accuracy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

Reasons

The publication of an Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) is a statutory requirement that provides transparency and accessibility to information about developer contributions secured by the Council through Section 106 Agreements.

The report has been produced in collaboration with Financial Services and the information contained within it is considered to represent the most robust data available at this time.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to bring forward and Infrastructure Funding Statement.  This is not a lawful option and would leave the Council in breach of its statutory duty.

Option 2: Seek review of the key statistics and proposed Infrastructure Funding Statement.  Officers consider that this is not required as the information is the most accurate and available at this time.