Obligation monitoring fees 

The table below sets out the Council’s obligation fees for planning applications that require a Section 106 or Unilateral Undertaking agreement. These figures can be used to estimate the Monitoring Fee applicable to each development.

Monitoring Fee – Financial Obligations
Obligations less than £100,000	£2,218.00 per obligation
Obligations over £100,000	£3,188.40 per obligation
Affordable Housing Non-Financial Monitoring Fee
Affordable Housing non-financial obligation where the development delivers less than 50 dwellings	£2,218.00 per obligation
Affordable Housing non-financial obligation where the development delivers more than 50 dwellings	£3,188.00 per obligation
Monitoring Fee – Non-financial Obligations
Non-financial obligation delivering on-site/off-site infrastructure in-kind	£3,188.00 per obligation

Deed of variation administration fee 

The table below shows information about administration fees charged for all Deeds of Variation payable on the completion of the Deed of Variation. 

Administration Fee
S106 Deed of Variation Monitoring Administration Fee	£100.00 per deed of variation

Confirmation of compliance 

The table below shows information about the fee for providing detailed information of S106 obligation compliance. 

Administration Fee
Confirmation of Compliance with S106 Agreement	£175.00 per S106 agreement

What the monitoring fee pays for   

The Council undertakes comprehensive monitoring of Section 106 (s106) planning obligations to ensure all commitments made through planning permissions are delivered correctly, on time, and in line with legislation. This work ensures transparency, timely delivery of infrastructure, financial accountability, and legal compliance. 

Below is an overview of the monitoring service and how monitoring fees are established. 

What the Council monitors 

To ensure planning obligations are implemented as agreed, the Council carries out the following functions: 

1. Database management (Exacom) 

• Entering all new planning obligations into the Exacom system.
• Maintaining and updating records throughout the lifecycle of each obligation. 

2. Trigger point monitoring 

• Identifying and tracking all obligation trigger points.
• Ensuring actions (payments, works, submissions, etc.) fall due at the correct time. 

3. Developer liaison 

• Contacting developers proactively regarding obligations.
• Confirming compliance and addressing queries. 

4. Site visits 

• Undertaking site inspections when needed to verify works or obligations. 

5. Financial monitoring 

• Monitoring deadlines for spending contributions.
• Tracking financial obligation time limits and spend profiles.
• Monitoring allocations, drawdowns, and expenditure against each project. 

6. Monitoring non‑financial obligations 

• Overseeing delivery of non‑financial commitments (e.g., affordable housing nominations, travel plans, community use, reports, management plans). 

7. Land transfer monitoring 

• Tracking required land transfers and ensuring legal completion. 

8. Approving developer submissions 

• Reviewing and approving reports, plans, strategies, and other documents required under s106 agreements. 

9. Internal coordination 

• Liaising with internal service areas (education, transport, environment, housing, legal, etc.).
• Coordinating information needed to satisfy obligations. 

10. Indexation and interest calculations 

• Applying indexation to financial obligations in line with agreement formulas.
• Calculating interest for late payments. 

11. Invoicing and financial administration 

• Issuing s106 Demand Notices via Exacom/ERP.
• Issuing credit notes where required.
• Processing incoming s106 payments.
• Chasing unpaid invoices.
• Arranging bank transfers of collected funds. 

12. Drawdowns and infrastructure providers 

• Engaging with internal teams and external infrastructure providers.
• Organising release (“drawdown”) of funds.
• Ensuring drawdowns align with the legal terms of the agreement. 

13. Compliance and legal review 

• Confirming that projects funded by s106 comply with the original legal requirements.
• Ensuring expenditure is lawful and appropriately evidenced. 

14. Data reconciliation and reporting 

• Reconciliation of all financial, project, and compliance data.
• Preparing and publishing the Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) annually by 31 December, including income and expenditure relating to monitoring fees. 

How the monitoring fee is calculated 

Monitoring fees are based on: 

• The estimated number of planning obligations managed each year.
• The percentage of officer time required per obligation and per trigger.
• The annual cost of software licences per obligation and trigger (e.g., Exacom). 

This ensures the fee charged is directly linked to the actual cost of monitoring each development. 

Legislative basis for monitoring fees 

Monitoring fees can lawfully be collected under Regulation 122(2A) of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations 2010 (as amended). 

The key requirements are: 

A monitoring fee is permitted if: 

• It fairly and reasonably relates in scale and kind to the development.
• It does not exceed the authority’s estimate of the cost of monitoring the development over the lifetime of the s106 obligations. 

Government guidance (Planning practice guidance) 

National guidance confirms: 

• Authorities may charge a monitoring fee to cover the cost of monitoring and reporting on planning obligations.
• Fees can apply to any type of obligation, financial or non‑financial, for the entire lifetime of the agreement.
• Fees cannot be applied retrospectively to historic agreements.
• Authorities may use:

1. a fixed percentage of the total value of obligations,
2. a fixed amount per agreement, or
3. another proportionate method.

• Monitoring fees must be reasonable, proportionate, and reflect actual costs.
• Authorities may choose to apply a cap to prevent excessive charges. 

Annual reporting 

The Council publishes all monitoring fee income and expenditure in its Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) each year, by 31 December. 
This ensures transparency in how fees are used and how obligations are delivered. 

 

Summary for developers 

The monitoring fee supports a comprehensive end‑to‑end service that ensures: 

• Transparent and accurate financial management
• Legal compliance with s106 agreements
• Timely delivery of infrastructure
• Proper reporting and public accountability
• Efficient communication between developers, the Council, and infrastructure providers 

The fee is calculated to reflect the genuine cost of delivering these functions and is fully compliant with national legislation and guidance.