Council Reviews Management Of Open Spaces On New Estates
Written by HFM News on 2nd July 2024
The responsibility for maintaining public open space on new housing estates across Harborough could be taken away from management companies.
It follows concerns raised by some residents and councillors about their effectiveness and value for money.
Currently residents on most new estates pay a sum to a management company for the upkeep of open space, but Harborough District Council is instead considering making developers pay Parish or Town Councils to take-on the areas on future new-builds, or in certain instances would do so itself.
There have been previous complaints about open space at a new estate in Great Bowden
The council is reviewing its Open Space Policy and a report on the matter considered at a recent meeting said: “Since 2013 new public open space in Harborough District has predominantly been adopted and managed by Management Companies (ManCos) appointed by developers.
“The performance of ManCos has been inconsistent. Some ManCos have performed well and present no issues to residents, whilst others, in combination with poor developer performance, have created issues for residents which are difficult to resolve through enforcement or legal action.
“This is frustrating for residents, officers and elected members as time is spent trying to resolve issues, often without any mechanism to enforce landscape plans or landscape management plans.”
“Under this new arrangement, it is expected that the parish or town council would fund open space management from a commuted sum paid by the developer for 15 years on transfer of the open space.
“The parish or town council concerned would build in time build a charge for continued onward maintenance into the parish precept, and thereby pay for onward maintenance through council tax.”
The District Council could step-in if a parish or town council did not want to adopt the areas and in Market Harborough, where there is no town council.
The council’s Cabinet is expected to make a final decision at a meeting later this month.
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