THE information revealed in the article on Section 106 planning payments (The Press, January 10) will be of concern to many, and especially to parish councils.

Many of the larger developments include specific project uses for the section 106 payments which were identified in the article. However, many of the payments for small developments are generally forwarded to the parish councils in which the development is located.

These councils then decide, based on local need and preference, how to use the funds according to specified parameters for the benefit of their communities.

This funding stream for community capital projects has become even more important since the ward grants provided by City of York Council in the past are generally no longer available.

If central Government decided that Section 106 payments should no longer be required or that all payments must go into a centralised fund controlled only by the primary local authorities, this would not only be a reversal in the Government’s aim to encourage “localism”, but could also result in political and administrative wrangling about where the money should be spent.

David Randon, chairman, Wheldrake parish council.