A Barton man wants people living on the Oxford estate to decide how money set aside by developers for community schemes is spent.

When the city council grants a developer permission to build new housing, the applicant is obliged to offset the impact of the development by handing over money for community schemes.

The decision on what project the money (called section 106 funding) should be used is made by Oxford City Council planning officers, but Barton Community Association treasurer Simon Heap believes this is unfair.

There is £457,000 in the s106 funding 'pot' for 10 schemes on the estate, but Mr Heap said the community would rather see some of money spent differently.

Schemes put forward by the city council include £3,423 to carry out improvements at Bayswater Brook, and £49,270 for a Barton Cycle link.

Mr Heap said things like a community cafe to provide a meeting point, and a place for unemployed people to be trained, was a much more worthy cause.

He said: "I understand that this money needs a home, but I am a bit worried about the home the money is going to.

"It does create problems if the money is not used, or is used in a way that people find uncharitable. Planning officers should have some sense of what the community is interested in if they are going to negotiate for things."

A total of £228,285 has already been allocated to improve the look of Underhill Circus, with the community consultation part of the scheme already under way.

Other schemes on the agenda include £6,729 for parking controls in North Way and £140,000 to improve Barton Pavilion.

Oxford City Council area co-ordinator Angela Christofili said planning laws restricted the way s106 money could be used, but added that the council aimed to use the money in the way the community wished.

She said: "In the past, I think there was perhaps less consultation with the community, but in the area committee we are trying to join all these things up so that the people living on the estate get a say."