Education funds left unspent:

CASH FOR education, transport and affordable housing is among the list of millions of pounds from developers unspent by Yorkshire councils.

In Leeds the money includes a payment of nearly £230,000 for public transport, a grant of more than £500,000 for affordable housing and another of £258,000 for education – all three major problem areas in the city. And there are many more like that.

In Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, £135,960 for a primary school. £47,200 for affordable housing and £208,000 for sports and recreational facilities are all on the list of unspent money provided under the Freedom of Information Act.

In Doncaster it includes £75,000 for a transport-related project and a payment of nearly £1m for affordable housing.

North Yorkshire and Richmondshire councillor John Blackie said: “There needs to be some very serious questions asked why much of the Section 106 affordable housing funding remains uncollected.

“In 2014 ... we agreed that the funding should be payable before any occupation of the new houses for sale it had facilitated, and that the Section 106 funds could be used throughout all Richmondshire, including the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Many of these new houses are now occupied and the developers are large regional house-builders who can afford to pay the full amount in one instalment.”

James Price, campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said it seemed ‘baffling’ that councils could cry out they were facing harsh cuts, whilst still sitting on money.

“It is unacceptable that taxpayers’ money is being used, whilst developers’ money is being sat on in council bank accounts rather than being left with the people who earned it. Councils should use this money rather than increasing council tax every single year,” he said.

Richmondshire said for the period 2013/14 – 2016/17 the council agreed developer contributions of £1,163,380 toward affordable housing which was payable on completion of the development concerned.

To date £310,454 has been collected for use in the Lower Wensleydale area of which £62,000 has been committed for use.

A Sheffield City Council spokesman said more than three quarters of the money had been allocated and the remaining money would be too.

Rotherham Council’s strategic director of regeneration and environment Damien Wilson said funds from developers for special projects had spend deadlines of several years as the projects required sufficient time to implement.

“Regular monitoring takes place and if a contribution is near its deadline, steps are taken to ensure these funds are spent within the appropriate timescales,” he said.

An East Riding Council spokesman said they had a dedicated officer who worked closely with local sports teams, organisations and community groups to bring forward bids for funding.

Councils should use this money rather than increasing council tax James Price, campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance