Issue - meetings

That Cabinet approves the 2022/23 drawdown of Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy monies as set out in this report and in the 2022/23 Drawdown Report attached at Appendix A, to fund expenditure of £19,160,905 for a wide range of community benefits across the borough.

Councillor Rowan Ree introduced the report setting out how the Council intended to spend the £19,160,905 contributions received through Section 106 (S.106) agreements or the Borough Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) from new developments. They would address the social and physical infrastructure needs, including affordable housing, and would mitigate impacts flowing from those developments. The value was an increase of £1.5 million compared with the previous year’s figure, which was a reflect of the effective approach the Council adopted to negotiate with developers.

Councillor Ben Coleman, the Chair, commended the report setting out investment in community safety initiatives, such as the Law Enforcement Team (LET) and the Gangs, Violence and Exploitation Unit, which was to be one of the largest areas of spend with nearly £2m proposed to be drawn down. The Council had invested in a force of 72 uniformed law enforcement officers to tackle issues across the Borough. The project to drive down anti-social behaviour and environmental crime claims was to be the biggest in London. He added that the LET was extremely popular with residents as it carried out knife searches and sweeps on Council Estates and was praised by the Police for its effectiveness. Other Councils across London were also recommending the introduction of a LET.

Councillor Andrew Dinsmore asked how the further investment in the LET would address violent crime in the Borough as they did not have powers of arrest nor to stop and search.

Councillor Ree replied that the LET provided vital assistance to the Police and were a visible presence to deter crime across the Borough. The Gangs Unit were particularly effective as they were working with young people to stop then getting involved with violent crime.

Councillor Dinsmore noted that, while it costed more to train a police officer, the annual salary of a police officer and a LET officer were broadly the same. He asked if the Council had considered the actual cost of increasing the number of police officers or ruled it out on ideological grounds.

Councillor Ben Coleman asserted that the Council operated on the basis of finding the most effective way to protect local residents and keep the streets in the Borough safe. The view of the residents was that the LET operating alongside the Police was very effective and provided a visible neighbourhood presence.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

That Cabinet approves the 2022/23 drawdown of Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy monies as set out in this report and in the 2022/23 Drawdown Report attached at Appendix A, to fund expenditure of £19,160,905 for a wide range of community benefits across the borough.