Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth introduced the report which was the annual report seen by the Committee for Section 106 at East Herts and the ongoing work of the Section 106 Programme Manager.

The Chair thanked the Executive Member for Planning and Growth for the report.

Members raised questions in relation to Parish and Town Councils’ understanding of Section 106, unspent allocations, affordable housing costs, the indexing linking of payments and Hatfield Forest contributions. 

The Section 106 Programme Manager said that several years ago training had been provided to the Parish Councils at their Conference, but she was happy to provide such information again. The Executive Member for Planning and Growth added that Section 106 training for Parish Councils could also be added to a Development Management Forum if desired. 

Members were advised that since 1996, only one contribution had been refunded – due to the wording of the contribution rendering it unfulfillable. It was explained that contributions were monitored on a spreadsheet, with affordable housing contributions overseen by Finance and the Director for Communities. 

Members heard that Section 106 payments were index linked to the individual contribution payment trigger and this is then the final amount available from the contribution, and that the time limit for these to be spent (with most being ten years) was triggered upon payment of monies, and not the date on which the agreement was signed. It was explained that the Section 106 Programme Manager worked closely with communities and fellow officers to ensure that funding was used as quickly as possible – enabling it to achieve what it was intended for. 

It was confirmed that in respect of Hatfield Forest, eleven unilateral undertakings had been signed, with two payments collected for Natural England.

It was moved by Councillor Dunlop and seconded by Councillor Nicholls that that the recommendations, as detailed, be approved.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the contents of the report and the ‘2024/25 Infrastructure Funding Statement’ (Appendix A) be noted and commented on.