Appendix 11 (a)

Commuted Sums Scrutiny Action Plan

Recommendation / Recommendation Accepted (Yes/No) / Target Date for Action / Lead Officer / OSC
Update / Notes
R1 / A detailed schedule of commuted sum payments be made available to Elected Members, detailing where the funds come from and the scheme they have been allocated to. / Yes
Reported to 28th Sept 2007 Committee / August 2007 / Doug Cooper/Kate Invernon / The schedule is now available to Elected Members. Minor changes are to be made to the existing report to show ward details etc.
COMPLETED
R2 / That quarterly reports are brought before the Audit Committee with a current schedule of commuted sum figures. / Yes
Reported to 28th Sept 2007 Committee / August
2007 / Doug Cooper/Kate Invernon / Quarterly report will also include brief commentary by Development Plans and Projects.
COMPLETED
R3 / Detailed monitoring to be undertaken of where the commuted sums received payments comes from, and where (which scheme) these are allocated to – a mapping exercise. / Yes / October 2007 / Doug Cooper/Kate Invernon / 26th June 2008 / The Commuted Sums Map is available on the Council Intranet along with the Commuted Sums Register which are both updated quarterly.
COMPLETED
R4 / Ward Councillors to be notified when a commuted um has been received within their particular Ward. Ward Councillors also to be notified if a commuted sum has been received for their Ward, but is potentially to be allocated to another Ward. This will assist in ensuring that Elected Members are involved in the decision- making process where there is discretion in the allocation of commuted sums, such as open space contributions. / Yes
Reported to 28th Sept 2007 Committee / August 2007 / Anne Thornton / Money Received - Procedures are being modified to ensure that an email is sent to appropriate Councillor when a commuted sum relating to a development in their ward is received.
COMPLETED
R5 / Where planning conditions require the provision of on-site open space within new residential developments, such open space be completed prior to the completion of any dwellings. / Yes / October 2007 / Katie Invernon / 26th June 2008 / There have been no subsequent housing developments requiring the provision of on-site open space. At such time, as any future development comes forward, planning approval would be subject to an appropriate planning condition at that time.
The Core Strategy will identify sites for major new development to meet future housing needs and a review of how much, what type, as well as when open space should be provided, will be an important consideration.
COMPLETED
R6 / That Members are formally consulted prior to a decision on the use of the expenditure of public space commuted sums and that the final decision is reported to Ward Members. The list of options would incorporate the views of Area Forums, completed scrutiny reports relating to open space, and the views of departments across the Council. / Yes
Reported to 28th Sept 2007 Committee / December 2007 / Mark Scrivens / New commuted sums to be assessed at the beginning of September 2007. Member consultation will commence subsequently.
COMPLETED
R7 / That consideration be given for the current Supplementary Planning Guidance to include provision for the collection of maintenance monies from all residential developments. / Yes / April 2008 / Mark Scrivens / Doug Cooper / 30th Sept 2010 / The collection of maintenance charges for all residential properties would require a change in policy by the Council, which would require a review of the Supplementary Planning Guidance and a lengthy process of consultation and preparation to justify the change in approach.
In light of the wider impending changes, including the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy dealing with much wider issues, there is considered no basis to introduce such a change in isolation.
R8 / That officers give consideration to increasing the period of maintenance charges for open space provision from the current 10 years, and that a monitoring regime be introduced for this fund. / Yes / April 2008 / Mark Scrivens / 30th Sept 2010 / The issue in terms of extending the period of maintenance for new areas of open space provided from the current ten years in a Leisure Services issue. Although in the current absence of new housing development and new areas of POS being created may not be seen as a pressing priority.
No new areas of open space have recently been created. Any future provision of new areas is likely to be able to be delivered on a site-by-site basis, with an increased maintenance requirement, if required by Leisure Services.

Last Updated 21st September 2010