Maidenhead & Windsor

Financial contributions made by developers in the Maidenhead Royal Borough are being tracked and checked by a new computer system that makes sure they pay on time and that the money is used for the benefit of local communities.

The Maidenhead borough's methods of managing Section 106 agreements, which has already won Audit Commission* praise for its "comprehensive and transparent approach", is now being looked at by other councils as an example of good practice.

In the past year (to the end of March 2006) almost £3 million came into the Maidenhead borough, thanks to contributions made by developers as part of their planning obligations (legal agreements) under S106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 – and a further £2 million came in between April 1 and July 31.

The S106 contributions recognise that some developments may have an impact on local Maidenhead communities, for example on roads, schools, play facilities etc, and developers are required to pay for any changes or improvements necessary to maintain the quality of life for people living in the area.

The system now used by Maidenhead council provides instant access to information by monitoring every S106 agreement (there are more than 500 with around 8,000 clauses relating to financial contributions) and the money allocated to each scheme by ward, parish or service. It also highlights when developers are due to make their payments so that reminders can be sent out and the money received in good time.

Currently there are over 1,200 projects on the database, including a range of recently-completed schemes funded by S106 contributions:

* Desborough Park multi-games area - £62,500
* Boyn Grove (Punt Hill play area) - £73,000
* Burleigh Road, Ascot, traffic calming - £60,000
* York Stream path - £50,000
* Oakley Green Road/A308 road safety improvement - £30,000
* Larchfield Primary and Nursery School remodelling of the nursery - £24,000
* Holy Trinity CE Primary, Sunningdale, refurbishment of the changing rooms - £22,000.

Future projects set to benefit from S106 funding include Sunninghill Library, Braywick Park pavilion and Trevelyan playing fields.

In the past year (2005/06) S106 contributions have brought a total of £2,939,550 into the borough for use in projects as wide ranging as affordable housing, open space, highways, education, youth and community initiatives, libraries, town centres, public art and waste management. Over £940,000 was spent on open space, highways and education.

Cllr Vicky Howes, lead member for Maidenhead planning, said: "If we are to have development in the borough it's only right that the companies should pay for maintaining the local environment, and S106 contributions benefit our communities without a cost to council taxpayers. We must account for every penny that comes in and the new database is an open and transparent way of making the information available to borough and parish councillors so they can see their own wards or areas at a glance.

"Our ultimate aim is to make the information available to the public and we are looking at ways of achieving this. In the meantime, other councils are turning to the Royal Borough as an example of best practice and our head of planning, David Trigwell, has been invited to give a presentation about the system to the Local Government Association. There is a great deal of interest in what we have achieved."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead