Agenda item

Councillor Bob Wright will move and Councillor Peter Watts will second:

“This Council recognises the need for Section 106 money from developers to both mitigate the effects of development on local communities and to assist local authorities in addressing future affordable housing, transport and education demand. Furthermore with substantial government funding cuts already taking place which has significantly reduced the Council’s ability to commit to significant capital projects without increasing its borrowing levels, this Council is committed to negotiating Section 106 agreements with developers that gets the best deal for local residents.

This Council is concerned about recent government announcements, including from the Prime Minister, which have encouraged local authorities to renegotiate existing Section 106 agreements with developers in order to stimulate the economy. Indeed this Council is worried that measures are already taking place which could be reducing Section 106 income from developers.

This Council does not think that renegotiating existing Section 106 agreements with developers will have any impact on the local economy and should the administration be considering renegotiating existing Section 106 agreements, requests that this be done in the most open, democratic and transparent way. With this in mind Council requests the Lead Member for Strategic Planning to bring forward a report to the next Cabinet Meeting detailing which Section 106 agreements are currently in the process of being renegotiated and why they are being renegotiated.”

            Councillor Bob Wright moved and Councillor Peter Watts seconded:

            “This Council recognises the need for Section 106 money from developers to both mitigate the effects of development on local communities and to assist local authorities in addressing future affordable housing, transport and education demand. Furthermore with substantial Government funding cuts already taking place which has significantly reduced the Council’s ability to commit to significant capital projects without increasing its borrowing levels, this Council is committed to negotiating Section 106 agreements with developers that gets the best deal for local residents.

            This Council is concerned about recent government announcements, including from the Prime Minister, which have encouraged local authorities to renegotiate existing Section 106 agreements with developers in order to stimulate the economy. Indeed this Council is worried that measures are already taking place which could be reducing Section 106 income from developers.

            This Council does not think that renegotiating existing Section 106 agreements with developers will have any impact on the local economy and should the administration be considering renegotiating existing Section 106 agreements, requests that this be done in the most open, democratic and transparent way. With this in mind Council requests the Lead Member for Strategic Planning to bring forward a report to the next Cabinet Meeting detailing which Section 106 agreements are currently in the process of being renegotiated and why they are being renegotiated.”

            Councillor Dale Heenan moved and Councillor Brian Ford seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

            “This Council recognises the need for Section 106 money from developers to both mitigate the effects of development on local communities and to assist local authorities in addressing future affordable housing, transport and education demand. Furthermore with substantial Government funding cuts already taking place which has significantly reduced the Council’s ability to commit to significant capital projects without increasing its borrowing levels, this Council is committed to negotiating Section 106 agreements with developers that get the best deal for local residents.

            This Council believes that the cross party Planning Committee continues to be the most open, democratic and transparent way to deal with Section 106 agreements in a transparent and public way.

            This Council notes that:

·        The Planning Committee receives its next regular report on Section 106 agreements in December 2012.

·        No Councillor is involved with negotiating Section 106 agreements with developers.

·        Any Council officer who negotiates on Section 106 agreements ensures that developers are required to pay all contributions, which can be obtained within the law.”

The Amendment was put to the vote and declared carried becoming the Substantive Motion.

            With the agreement of the mover and seconder of the new Substantive Motion it was amended to read:

            “This Council recognises the need for Section 106 money from developers to both mitigate the effects of development on local communities and to assist local authorities in addressing future affordable housing, transport and education demand. Furthermore with substantial Government funding cuts already taking place which has significantly reduced the Council’s ability to commit to significant capital projects without increasing its borrowing levels, this Council is committed to negotiating Section 106 agreements with developers that get the best deal for local residents.

            This Council believes that the cross party Planning Committee continues to be the most open, democratic and transparent way to deal with Section 106 agreements in a transparent and public way.

This Council notes that:

·        The Planning Committee receives its next regular report on Section 106 agreements in December 2012.

·        No Councillor is involved with negotiating Section 106 agreements with developers but officers should consult with local Members.

·        Any Council officer who negotiates on Section 106 agreements ensures that developers are required to pay all contributions, which can be obtained within the law.”

The Substantive Motion, as amended, was put to the vote and declared carried.