Millions of pounds available for Torbay communities

Deadlines mean it could be handed back

Millions of pounds handed to local communities by developers in return for building homes and other projects around Torbay is gathering dust in the bank.

Up to £5 million is available, according to new figures, and now there are calls for the money to be released for projects including improvements to parks and sports facilities. In some cases deadlines are attached to the money, meaning that if it is not spent in time, it will have to be given back.

“Let’s stop talking,” said Shiphay councillor Darren Cowell, who leads the Independent group on Torbay Council. “Let’s see some action.”

The cash comes from Section 106 contributions, the name given to the legally binding agreement between a council and a developer, aimed at mitigating the impact of a development on the local community and infrastructure.

With the largest developments, these contributions can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. For instance, the Inglewood housing development at Paignton attracted contributions of £309,000 for local health services, £135,000 for local employment and £110,000 for sustainable transport.

The figures show that the Inglewood money has almost all been spent, but many contributions for developments elsewhere in the bay are still in the bank.

The figures show that Torbay Council has collected £21 million in Section 106 money. It has spent nearly £16million and allocated some more, but has the remainder left in the ‘available’ column.

Cllr Cowell obtained the information after lodging a request under the Freedom of Information Act. It is now freely available on the council’s website.

He said it is time to release money for projects, to be decided by local communities themselves and wants to know what the plans are for the funds, including £27,000 earmarked for sport but not yet spent, and £43,000 for trees in Shiphay.

“The website indicates that there is £1.1 million available for recreation,” he said. “The new public-facing web page highlights two things – the staggering amount that has been either unallocated or remains unspent, and the large number of inaccurate entries that I know have been spent, but are not up to date.”

Cllr Cowell conceded that it could be difficult to spend Section 106 money in some cases, for instance on a local park where escalating costs meant the developer’s contribution would no longer cover the bill.

He also said some of the information on the website appears out of date. “We know there are things that have been spent but aren’t showing up,” he said.

“I don’t think there is £5 million unspent and available, but we need clarity about what actually is there. We need accurate data.

“There is money which could be going out of the door to be spent on our parks. Once we know what is in there waiting to be spent, we can go out and spend it.

“Our parks are deteriorating while there is money available to invest in them.”