Section 106 (S106) Funding

Section 106 funding is an agreement entered into between the local council and a property developer. This agreement requires the developer to provide a specific amount of funding for the improvement/implementation of community amenities. There are certain restrictions that stipulate which type of redevelopment is subject to a S106 agreement (eg student accommodation and hotels are not subject to S106 agreements and therefore there is no funding available from this type of development).

Redevelopment within St.David's resulted in a S106 funding provision of £60,000 for improving community facilities. Not unreasonably, I believe, it was anticipated that Looe Road Park would receive at least a share of this funding, given the desperate need for improvements.

The majority, if not all, of the £60,000 was spent on another park (Bury Meadow). I had discussed this matter with CF/SDNP, prior to the expenditure, and she assured me that, "she would deal with it because she knew who was responsible, and she saw no reason why they (Bury Meadow Park) should have this money, they're not even in St.David's". Our community was misled again by CF/SDNP and we received nothing.

Greater Involvement With Social Housing Tenants - Deja Vu!

At about the same time that I organised the Express & Echo article I also approached the Chair of Exeter Housing Society's (now Cornerstone) Tenants Representative Committee to request a meeting to discuss any support that they may be able to offer. Frequent requests made, again over many months, to CF/SDNP/SL/EPW to arrange this meeting, were ignored.

As with the newspaper article, CF/SDNP/SL/EPW were supportive when I informed them that I had taken the initiative myself and organised a meeting with the Tenants Reps Committee. Once again, CF/SDNP/SL/EPW withdrew their support at the last minute and I was informed that, "Any views that I expressed at this meeting could only be from a personal point of view and were not endorsed by CF/SDNP/SL/EPW". Why not? You constantly bleat on about 'active community participation' but the reality is that, as always, you only want it on your terms, if at all. Thank you all very much for 'support', not.