Background:
KCC receive developers’ contributions (S106) to support the additional demand on services for young people created as a result of new housing developments. Currently, KCC has secured almost £1.3m of S106 funding for youth services, with a further £582k awaiting process. There is a further £1.5m that has been approved and will become payable once houses are built. Kent’s growth agenda will result in many new housing developments planned. As these reach planning, ICS will request a youth S106 contribution. This is currently being based upon a figure in the region of £7 per home.Working with KCC Property and Infrastructure, ICS are now in an early stage of ‘testing’ an increase figure of £65.50 per home, for youth work, which is based upon a greater understanding of our service as current thinking is based on a model which pre-dates the development of an integrated service where we may have just wanted some delivery space in every new development but which was not targeted or joined up.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 04/02/2020
Decision due: Not before 20th Mar 2020 by Cabinet Member for Integrated Children's Services
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimum of 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Integrated Children's Services
Lead director: Stuart Collins
Department: Strategic & Corporate Services
Contact: Hema Birdi, Assistant Director, Adolescent and Open Access, East, Integrated Children's Services Tel: 03000 411407 Email: hema.birdi@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
This decision was discussed and endorsed at the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on 11 March 2020.
No formal community consultation. However, the proposals are based upon meeting the need of community regarding services for young people in regard to a contextual safeguarding methodology. Actual areas of focus will be led by the District Contextual Safeguarding meetings and adolescent risk management processes.
Opportunities to engage with young people will be facilitated through the Local Children’s Partnership Groups and district Contextual Safeguarding Network, to ensure that their voice is captured in making plans to utilise this funding.
Financial implications: Whilst the S106 funding releases additional budget, it is noted that future receipts are not guaranteed. The programme aims to ensure that this is continually reviewed every 18 months in regard to sustainability post the 2 years initial aim. £1.3m S106 funding allocated to be spent on youth provision. Of this, £13k must be spent on Capital projects and the remainder (£1.27m) can be spent on areas that ICS is able to identify as benefiting from this resource (within the criteria that there is additional demand on services created as a result of new housing developments). ICS have identified opportunities as per the decisions outlined above. A further £582k of Section 106 funding has been requested but not yet approved. Once approved, this figure can be added to the above figure of future receipts. In addition to the secured S106 funding, ICS have a projected income stream of £1.5m. This is money that has been allocated to KCC as housing developments have been approved.
Legal implications: The 1990 Town and Country Planning Act (as amended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991) established the statutory framework for developer contributions in the form of Section 106 planning obligations. Our Development Contributions team within Economic Development department ensure that our requests comply and have appropriate governance in place.
Equalities implications: An EqIA has been completed as part of the process and will be presented to the CYPE Cabinet Committee so it can be considered as part of the decision-making process. It is expected that the impact on protected groups will be largely positive, given the proposed opportunities to engage with young people to ensure that their voice is heard and fully incorporated into plans for provision delivery. Young people could represent a number of protected groups.