Abergele..Public Raise Concerns Over 106 Grant Funding For Allotments!

Cllr Wood is applying for S106 public funding and on Thursday night 29th September at Abergele Town Council for planning of which he is an officer to raise support for his application.

The Allotments throughout the planning process have been stated to be privately funded yet the owner is now asking for money from the public purse and will be using his status as a Cllr to raise this and ask for support from the Abergele Town Council and of course, Cllr Wood is on the committee.

Members of the community are raising their concerns, however, some might say the Cllr Wood is being victimized!

Having read through the Section 106 Grant Funding Criteria and the Capital Project it is confusing to say the least but the question is or the concern is that a private facility is being funded by the public purse which should have been on the original planning application.

Do you think this Private allotment should be funded by S106 funding?

I would assume that allotment associations like the one in Llandudno could or have applied for this funding.

Objectors may do well to write to the body that awards the Section 106 Grant funding to object, clearly stating their reasons.

The Council could have used this on the Abergele Youth Community Centre rather than closing it!

I will update you with a link soon.

Under S106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, contributions can be sought from developers towards the costs of providing community and social infrastructure, the need for which has arisen as a result of a new development taking place. This funding is commonly known as 'Section 106'.

It is important to note that S106 monies may therefore only be spent on facilities where the new development has, at least in part, contributed to the need for the facilities. S106 funding is available for capital projects only. Revenue funding towards ongoing running costs is not available.

The District Council S106 grant scheme is open to all community-based organizations that operate on a not-for-profit basis in East Cambridgeshire. The facilities provided must be open to the public with no membership restrictions in relation to the Equality Act 2010 and have wide public and community benefits.

To be eligible for funding, the applicant organization must have a constitution or set of rules, demonstrate that they have consulted facility users/the local community, provide any other evidence of the need for the project, and have the written support of the local Parish Council.

The District Council is the accountable body for the spending of S106 monies and therefore must ensure that:

• The funding is spent on facilities that can be demonstrated to be required because of the new development taking place

• The process is transparent and fair to all

• Projects supported are necessary, viable, will deliver the required social and community benefits, and will be well managed.

When assessing proposed projects the following criteria will be considered:

• The eligibility of the organization and project for S106 funding.

• Ownership of the asset and whether consent is in place for any works.

• Endorsement of the local Parish Council.

• Evidence of need for the project (for example supported by the findings of ECDCs Play Audit and Strategy, securing Minor Highway Improvement Bid funding, identified as a priority in a Parish Plan, community consultation).

• An increase in usage of the asset as a result of awarding the funding (for example a greater number of people will use the facility).

• A broader usage of the asset as a result of awarding the funding (for example use by disabled people, older or younger people who may not have had access previously).

• That a complete funding package is in place with the offer of a S106 grant.

• That there is financial sustainability for the asset into the future.

• S106 Grant Eligibility

  Before completing a S106 Grant Application form, please ensure that you have read the following guidelines.

  Eligibility of the project for S106 funding 

  To be eligible for a S106 grant a project must provide improved or increased community or social infrastructure, the need for which has arisen at least in part, as a result of a new development taking place.

  S106 funding is available for capital projects only. Revenue funding towards ongoing running costs is not available. The types of project that might be eligible will be dependent primarily upon evidence that an assessment has been made of local community needs and that the project provides new or improved community or social infrastructure, the need for which has at least arisen in part as a result of new development in the community. Some examples of the types of projects which might be appropriate are listed below:-

  Community Centre/Village Halls: 

  Upgrading facilities which are the main community center in a village and which are available for anyone in the community to use. The funding can support works such as new build, extensions, refurbishment, provision of disabled facilities, and provision of facilities which will enable the hall to diversify its use. Examples of an eligible projects:

  • The installation of a new kitchen.

  • Complete re-roofing of a facility.

  • Entrance improvements including access ramps and automatic door openers.

  Minor repairs, redecoration and movable equipment items are excluded from the grant scheme. Examples of projects that would not be eligible for funding:

  • A new cooker 

  • The replacement of broken roof tiles  

  • Painting a meeting room 

  Multi-purpose sports and leisure centers which serve the general public:

  Building a new facility, extending or refurbishing an existing facility or the provision of disabled facilities. When designing and developing facilities and implementing projects, applicants are advised to consider best practice guidance provided by Sport England and the relevant National Governing Bodies.

  Examples of an eligible project:

  • The installation of a new sprung floor 

  • Complete re-surfacing of an astro-turf pitch 

  • Upgrading toilets and changing areas to improve accessibility 

  Minor repairs, maintenance, redecoration and movable equipment items are excluded from the scheme.

  Examples of projects that would not be eligible for funding:

  • Patch repairs to an astro-turf pitch 

  • Fixing a broken shower 

  • Goal posts or other sports equipment 

  Play facilities: 

  Building new or substantially refurbishing play areas, teenage zones, skateboard facilities and similar. The need for the facility should also normally have been identified within the District Council’s Play Audit 2012-13 and Action Plan 2013-14 in order to be eligible. This Audit has identified gaps in current play provision across the district and grant aid should focus primarily on addressing these needs. In addition, we would expect to see evidence that families and young people have been consulted and have participated in the design of the proposed play facility. Examples of an eligible project:

  • New play equipment 

  • New safety surface 

  • A youth shelter 

  Minor repairs, maintenance, redecoration and movable equipment items are excluded from the scheme. Examples of projects that would not be eligible for funding:

  • Patch repairs to safety surfaces 

  • Painting existing play equipment 

  Open Spaces: 

  Grants are available to parish councils and community groups for the purchase or leasing of land, for formal/informal public open space, recreation and allotments. Leases must be for a minimum of 25 years or, where land is to remain in private ownership, there needs to be a Covenant or written agreement in place which protects public access and use of the site in perpetuity. Grants are also available for improvement to existing open spaces such as improving access, education or other facilities. Please note that planting enhancements will only be considered as part of whole woodland/orchard development projects. Examples of eligible projects:

  •  A new trail and signage in an existing open space that improves accessibility 

  • Securing a piece of land to develop into a community orchard 

  Maintenance and repairs to existing provisions are excluded from the scheme. 

  Examples of projects that would not be eligible for funding: 

  • Repairing a sign 

  • Replacing or repairing a damaged bench 

  • But this does not fit the criteria of the allotment, 

    What Is a Capital Project?

    A capital project is a long-term, capital-intensive investment to build upon, add to, or improve a capital asset. Capital projects are defined by their large scale and large cost relative to other investments that involve less planning and resources.

  • KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • A capital project is an often-pricey, long-term project to expand, maintain, or improve upon a significant piece of property.
    • A capital project is distinct from other company projects as it is large in scale, high cost, and requires considerable planning relative to other investments.
    • Capital projects often refer to infrastructure, like roads or railways, or, in the case of a corporation, the development of a manufacturing plant or office.
    • This is clearly stated in the S106 application. all very confusing, but you can book to attend on Thursday 29th Abergele Town Council Meeting.
    • And Conwy County Councils Template for S106 agreement, https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Planning-Building-Control-and-Conservation/Strategic-Planning-Policy/Supplementary-planning-guidance-documents/Assets/Housing/Template-Section-106-Agreement.pdf
    • And https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Planning-Building-Control-and-Conservation/Strategic-Planning-Policy/Assets-SPP/documents/Planning-Obligations/2021-22-Section-106-Monitoring-Report-En.pdf