Council publishes Section 106 agreements

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Council publishes Section 106 agreements

Monday September 19, 2011

In another coup for Britain’s most transparent local authority, Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council has become one of the first in the country to let residents view outstanding ‘Section 106’ funds online.

A Section 106 agreement sees a local authority strike an agreement with a developer to provide a contribution to make any necessary improvements in a neighbourhood where development is due to take place.

Examples of contributions include funds to be spent on highways, recreational facilities, education and new housing to support new large scale developments.

By visiting the council’s dedicated transparency pages at www.lbhf.gov.uk/transparency, residents can now view outstanding Section 106 funds and the purposes for which they are identified.

H&F Council, a recent LGC Council of the Year, has led the way in openness and transparency and last year became one of the first authorities to put all spending above £500 online. In addition, taxpayers can also view senior officer salaries, details of all councillors’ expenses, the borough’s asset register and departmental organisation charts.

Cllr Harry Phibbs, cabinet member for community engagement, said: “H&F Council wants to be champions of openness and transparency in order to deliver value for money for our residents. Our taxpayers are the eyes and ears of the council and we want them to hold us to account and scrutinise us on how their money is spent and service provided. By publishing outstanding Section 106 details online, residents will be able to make sure that we are spending the contribution from developers effectively and not leaving the money unspent in a remote account.”

Cllr Nick Botterill, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, said: “This council has a strong track record when it comes to negotiating Section 106 agreements with developers. Now that these details have been published online, residents will be able to see exactly how we are spending the proceeds to improve the areas in which they live. We hope that this transparency will encourage residents to come forward with ideas about the best way to spend the money in their neighbourhoods.”

H&F Council’s transparency initiatives were recently praised by the Taxpayers Alliance, who said: “Hammersmith & Fulham should be congratulated for their moves toward greater openness and transparency.”

Visit this link to view outstanding Section 106 agreements.

» Send us your comments now

The council has been entirely transparent in its dealing with the developer and the process that led to the S106 agreement was explained at both the recent public meeting and planning committee. The council identified the impact that the development would have on the surrounding area and justified the necessary contributions on that basis.

All the S106 money that we have negotiated will be spent on the necessary improvement of social and physical infrastructure around the Fulham Reach site and related to the development.

This application was approved on its planning merits only, with the committee believing that the scheme will revitalise the riverside by bringing new homes, jobs and prosperity to a part of London that has been in desperate need of regeneration for many years.
From H&F Council on 28/09/2011 at 11:58
There was no transparency whatsoever on s106 spend at last night's Fulham Reach development planning approval meeting. Nor any transparency on meetings the council members had with the developer ahead of the formal proposal. I guess that confirms that the UK's 'most transparent council' is a relative term.
From Kevin Haupert on 24/09/2011 at 09:46

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