Agenda item

The Executive considered a report requesting the allocation and expenditure of specific funds received via planning obligations as part of Section 106 Agreements and Unilateral Undertakings collected from development schemes in Surrey Heath for specific categories of works.

Members were reminded that Planning Infrastructure Contributions (PIC) must be spent in accordance with the Council’s Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document 2011, which had been adopted by the Executive in October 2011. The categories under which the collection of infrastructure contributions could be made were noted.

Contributions collected for libraries and transport were allocated and spent by Surrey County Council on identified new transport infrastructure and library facilities. The contributions made on the remainder of the PIC categories were held and overseen by this Council; the agreed tariff scheme for these categories required that the majority of the sums raised were spent on equipped play space, with reduced proportions spent on the other identified category areas. The monies collected under PIC could not be used for the general maintenance of existing play space sites.

The Executive was advised that inspections of all parks had been undertaken, with Health and Safety inspections conducted and usage patterns taken into account. From this work, 11 projects had been identified for progression and would be funded by contributions already collected. It was reported that the equipment would be guaranteed for 10 years.

RESOLVED that

(i)          the following projects be carried out and funded by funds collected through Planning Infrastructure Contributions:

·       Briar Avenue, Lightwater – Equipped Play space

·       Cheylesmore Drive, Heatherside – Equipped Play Space

·       Chobham Road Recreation Ground, Frimley – Equipped Play Space

·       Evergreen Road, Parkside – Equipped Play space

·       Frimley Lodge Park, Frimley Green – Equipped Play space

·       Lightwater Country Park, Lightwater – Equipped Play space

·       Loman Road, Mytchett & Deepcut – Equipped Play space

·       London Road Recreation Ground, St Michael’s – Equipped Play space

·       Old Dean Recreation Ground, Old Dean – Equipped Play space

·       Borough Wide – Replacement Notice Boards

·       Watchmoor  Reserve, Watchetts – Environmental Improvements; and

(ii)        the implementation of the individual schemes be delegated to the Executive Head of Business after consultation with the Business and Finance Portfolio Holders.

RECOMMENDED to Council that the Capital Programme for 2017/18 be increased by £613,000.