Agenda item

Report of the Director of Services

The Director of Services presented the report to Members. 

He explained that since the report had been written the responsibility for spending the Section 106 money had been formally handed over from the Primary Care Trust (PCT) to the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG). At a meeting that afternoon with the CCG representative for the area, discussions had been had regarding the intention to spend the money and a request had been submitted on 30 December to release £250,000 for Long Lane.  The Director of Services assured Members that he would continue monthly communications with the CCG representative to encourage the funds to be spent.  He concluded that a strategic asset plan was being drafted by the CCG which would be submitted to National Government.

Councillor T Eynon commented that it was really important for people to understand that the Council had no powers over spending the funds and congratulated the officers for their efforts in getting to this point.  She also thanked Dr B Kneale for the question she submitted earlier in the meeting on the same subject.

In response to a number of questions from Councillor T Eynon, the Director of Services stated the following:

-   It was confirmed that no money had been paid back to the developers to date and it was the intent to extend the expired agreements subject to the agreement of developers.

-   The representative for the CCG was Ruth Waddington and her email address would be circulated to members outside of the meeting.

-   As the meeting with the CCG representative was only that afternoon it was difficult to say how the arrangement would work in the future.  He believed it would be more appropriate to report back to a future meeting on the process and progress; this would also keep Members involved in the monitoring of the spending as requested.

-   The Director of Services agreed to provide information on the amount of funds spent prior to the dates within the report.  He explained that the NHS incurred the expenditure and then needed to provide evidence of this first before funds were released.

-   The Director of Services could not say exactly how the CCG were planning on operating but he was aware that it would be strategic and the plan they were currently drafting would assist with this.  He added that he was sure the Health and Wellbeing Board would fit in well but it was the decision of the CCG as to whether they were involved.  He was sure this would be identified within the plan.

Councillor N Clarke reinforced the importance in keeping Members involved with the monitoring of this and asked which officers were involved in the meeting held that afternoon with the CCG.  He also enquired whether minutes would be available.  The Director of Services stated that he would let Members know which officers were involved and when the minutes would be available.

Councillor J Coxon commented that as an Ashby Member he felt that Section 106 money put aside for Ashby should be spent in Ashby as it was very much needed.  He believed that the involvement of local Members was important and the Town Council should also have a level of involvement.  The Director of Services agreed that money for Ashby should be spent in that area but unfortunately older agreements did not specify this.  It was a detail that was being addressed with future agreements.

The Chairman felt confident that the involvement of the CCG representative would move things forward and he was looking forward to seeing more detail regarding progress and time frames at a future meeting.

The Chief Executive commented that unfortunately this was a problem for many authorities and was pleased that steps were being made to move things forward.  She suggested that as the Committee had powers to do so, the CCG representative could be invited to a future meeting to answer Members’ questions on the future progress in the area.  Members expressed their wish to do so.

Councillor V Richichi asked if there were any financial benefits to the Council for holding the funds until they were spent.  The Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that it was a statutory scheme and as the Council was responsible for negotiating the contributions, it had to hold the funds.  He assured Members that there was no cost to the Council.

It was moved by Councillor D Harrison, seconded by Councillor J Geary and

RESOLVED THAT:

a)        The amount of Section 106 money currently being held for health contributions be noted.

b)       The efforts being made by officers to facilitate Section 106 health contributions to be spent within the terms of the applicable legal agreements be noted.

c)       Progress be monitored and the CCG representative for the area be invited to a future meeting to answer Members questions.