Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Environmental Services

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is for the Council to determine a clear policy regarding developers setting up local management organisations which own and maintain public open space, outdoor sports pitches and play areas on new developments, which then levy a service charge on residents for the maintenance & upkeep of such areas.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To approve the policy that the Council’s strong preference is that public open space, outdoor sports pitches and play areas on new developments continue to be adopted by the Council in conjunction with the relevant town or parish council with a commuted sum based on accurate costs which reflects the Council’s tendered rates for maintenance.   

1.2   To approve the policy that the Council will only consider a local management organisation proposed by any developer, if all the conditions set out in Appendix 1 are met.

Resolved

(1)          That the policy that the Council’s strong preference is that public open space, outdoor sports pitches and play areas on new developments continue to be adopted by the Council in conjunction with the relevant town or parish council with a commuted sum based on accurate costs which reflects the Council’s tendered rates for maintenance be approved.

(2)          That the policy that the Council will only consider a local management organisation proposed by any developer if all the conditions set out in the annex to the minutes (as set out in the Minute Book) are met be approved.

The Head of Environmental Services submitted a report which to determine a clear policy regarding developers setting up local management organisations which own and maintain public open space, outdoor sports pitches and play areas on new developments, which then levy a service charge on residents for the maintenance & upkeep of such areas.

At the discretion of the Chairman, Councillor Lawrie Stratford addressed Executive.

Resolved

(1)          That the policy that the Council’s strong preference is that public open space, outdoor sports pitches and play areas on new developments continue to be adopted by the Council in conjunction with the relevant town or parish council with a commuted sum based on accurate costs which reflects the Council’s tendered rates for maintenance be approved.

(2)          That the policy that the Council will only consider a local management organisation proposed by any developer if all the conditions set out in the annex to the minutes (as set out in the Minute Book) are met be approved.

Reasons

LMOs maintaining open spaces and play areas can be satisfactory but they can sometimes bring few benefits to residents and usually levy an additional change to residents. However, there can be potential savings to a developer for such an approach in avoiding a large up front development cost.

Therefore, it is important that a policy on LMOs is in place to ensure adequate safeguards and standards are established and certainty is provided for residents if a developer seeks to follow this approach.

In recent public inquiries, the Council’s technical specifications and rates for landscape maintenance were endorsed by the inspector. Consequently the commuted sums requested on new developments have a strong basis for provision.

Alternative Options

Option 1 Approve the policy that the Council’s strong preference is for adoption of open spaces, parks and sports pitches with a commuted sum to cover the on-going maintenance.

Option 2: To reject the proposed policy

Option 3: To ask officers to develop alternative proposals