Decision details

That £10k of S106 contributions (as summarised in Annex 1 of the Director of Environment, Culture & Communities report) are allocated to Crowthorne Parish Council as a grant to part-fund improvement to toilets and changing rooms  associated with outdoor recreational / sport facilities at Morgan Recreation Ground; and

That the contribution be released after the project has commenced.

      i.        Developer contributions are collected through S106 agreements to support “providing, expanding or improving open space, and/or outdoor recreational facilities (which may include the acquisition and/or improvement of land and/or buildings and/or carrying out or assisting in the carrying out of nature/landscaping conservation projects) within 3 kilometres of the Site.”

     ii.        The justification for requiring developers to supporting the improvement of open space and outdoor recreational facilities is given under point 8. Promoting Healthy Communities, The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which states that:

“Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities.”

    iii.        The borough council has adopted a Parks and Open Spaces Strategy (2012) and the proposed Winkfield Parish Council project is in accordance with delivering the key borough objectives:

Provision:

·         Protect and establish public open space for recreation, play, sport, health, biodiversity, heritage and climate change adaption that is appropriate to need; strategically located; and adaptable to future requirements

Use and Enjoyment:

·         Make sure public open space supports well-being; encourages participation; and facilitates social inclusion

   iv.        Crowthorne Parish Council have a history of committed work to providing the public with open spaces including recreational and sports facilities and as such would be considered as a suitable body through which to deliver S106 funded enhancements to mitigate development.

      i.        Not carrying out a project at Morgan Recreation Ground could lead to funds being returned to the developers, if no other qualifying scheme was located through which to deliver enhancements in the time available.

     ii.        Not utilising s106 funding could result in a failure to mitigate the impact of development and a missed opportunity for ‘providing, expanding or improving open space, and/or outdoor recreational facilities’.

    iii.        The wide range of S106 contributions available in the borough have been assessed in order to eliminate those lying outside the distance constraints of the developments as set out in the s106 agreements.

None