CALLS are being made to improve play areas across Worcester - with council chiefs prepared to change their rules to secure better investment.

The city council is changing the way it manages millions of pounds of cash handed over from developers to help boost Worcester.

The cash kitties, called Section 106 agreements, are drawn up in return for awarding planning permission on particular projects like new housing estates.

Typically the money is drawn up to help a nearby school expand, or improve public transport, but the cash is often handed over in payments lasting several years.

The city planning department has now secured permission from councillors to vary what each agreement can be spent on, if officers change their minds as the years go by.

It follows concern agreements are currently drawn up with no flexibility, creating the potential for money to be wasted.

The council's planning committee has agreed to back the change in policy, during which councillors said much of the funds could be better spent.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson said: "If I think of Warndon Villages, we've had issues where we've struggled to spend it in Warndon Parish South (her council ward).

"As one example this money could be used to boost play areas throughout Warndon Villages.

"I'd also ask that when you consider these (the Section 106 agreements) you think about what should happen when a play area nears the end of its 20-year 'cycle', and how it should be replaced, because that is an issue."

Councillor Pat Agar said: "The Nunnery area has been left with very poor facilities and a lot of new housing development.

"I know it can happen to any of us, but I don't think this is particularly fair."

During the debate other councillors said allowing the policy to be flexible should help officers think longer term.

Councillor Roger Knight, the current Mayor of Worcester, said: "In St Peter's when the use of our Section 106 money expired (for building the Tesco), the money expired, which meant we had to find funds for the village hall from somewhere else.

"I wonder if we should look at these a different way - to use that Section 106 money to get an ongoing revenue stream because at the moment once it runs out, it runs out."

The committee agreed to vote for the policy to be a flexible one, but it will not impact upon the money developers are required to pay.

The deals can vary in worth enormously - for example Miller Homes will have to hand over £1.2 million towards public transport if it succeeds in getting planning permission for 200 homes at Middle Battenhall Farm.