Agenda item

Tom McCann asked the Executive Member for Planning and Highways the following question:

 

Question

Information on the WBC website about S106 developer contributions has not been kept up to date and one of the reports is missing, this is not very open and transparent of the Council.

 

However going by what has now appeared on the website, the February 2015 report of developer contributions by parish shows £5.3M of S106 contributions received or owed to WBC for Woodley, how much of this has been identified in the capital program for the next 3years?

 

Minutes:

 

Question

Information on the WBC website about S106 developer contributions has not been kept up to date and one of the reports is missing, this is not very open and transparent of the Council.

 

However going by what has now appeared on the website, the February 2015 report of developer contributions by parish shows £5.3M of S106 contributions received or owed to WBC for Woodley, how much of this has been identified in the capital program for the next 3 years?

 

Answer

Thank you Tom for giving me the opportunity to explain how much we are spending in Woodley.  I do apologise on behalf of the Officers and myself regarding the S106 information not being updated on the website.  I get it in hard copy as does Prue every month so there is no secret.

 

Of the £5.3m, the following has been identified in the capital programme.

 

Active Projects on 14/15 Capital Programme:

- Environment ** - £102k

- Community / Leisure - £172k

- Libraries - £7k

            - Education - £173k

 

**Environment Includes. Transport, Cycleways, Crossings, Public Rights of Way, Road Safety

 

Pending Projects on 15/16 onwards in the Capital Programme:

            - Environment - £996k

            - Community / Leisure - £349k

            - Education - £2.8m

 

There is stuff which is at Feasibility project stage, but it always happens, as Angus pointed out earlier, things do tend to change but they are at the feasibility change stage at the moment and they are not projects on the Capital Programme and they are:

            - Environment - £128

- Community / Leisure *** - £367k

            - Libraries - £64k

            - Total £0.6m

 

*** Community / Leisure Inc. Woodley Town Centre, Public Toilets, Civic Space, Play Areas

 

The money which has been recently received, which is awaiting allocation is £200,000.

 

Supplementary Question

Could you just tell me first what that actually totals up to?  That would be very handy.  I assume you have got that as a bottom number. 

 

My supplementary question is, of that amount money (as it is extremely difficult for local people to understand) where and when this money is being allocated when the Council allocates its Capital programme and changes it at a whim.  As an example the Bulmershe has been bounced for 2 years.  I hope this Council undertakes to spend this money in time and in calendar year and to budget.

 

Supplementary Answer

It may surprise you that my colleague there will not let me change anything at a whim.  The last time I was asked I remember I had somebody ask about the Winnersh relief road.  They asked where the money was for it and I explained very clearly the Winnersh relief road money, because it would change priorities and it was coming forward sooner, would appear on the Capital Programme.  Now with regards to you finding out, this information is all available.  It is not hidden anywhere.  Prue gets this information; she can ask for it, she is on SCiWG.  There is no reason why you cannot see this information.  If you feel that there is anything which is underhand or you do not think represents value for money I would suggest that you ask for the information.

 

I have asked my colleague to add it up for me and it actually comes to £5.3million.  The other thing I would say while I am here is that we did not reroute the bus but I am quite prepared to work with you, Beth and Reading Transport to try to get the route changed if that is what you require.