Decision details

The Medium Term Financial Strategy assumes ongoing cost savings in the maintenance of assets to be achieved by rationalising the asset base. In addition the capital programme requires funding from receipts generated from asset disposals. This Cabinet paper summarised progress on approved asset disposals, gave Cabinet feedback on the assets approved for disposal at June Cabinet (ie were subject to consultation) and requested permission to withdraw and asset that had been approved at June Cabinet as due diligence checks had revealed the asset was part of a lease.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To proceed with the disposal of assets listed in Annex 1, Part B, considered by Cabinet in June 2017 with sale proceeds being used to fund the asset management and capital programmes;

2.  To proceed with the disposal of assets listed in Annex 2, Part B, considered by Cabinet in June 2017 to Parish & Town Councils and eligible community groups to ensure their continued use for the benefit of the community;

3.  To withdraw from the disposal list the asset listed in Annex 2, Part C as considered at June 2017.

For items 1 & 2, the items agreed for disposal at June 2017 Cabinet followed the consultation process, there were no objections received and therefore the assets are agreed as surplus to be processed for disposal.

For item 3 the asset is tied to a tenancy, the land to be used for the Housing Association resident’s welfare, therefore the land is not surplus.

For items 1 & 2 the alternative would be to retain the sites, but as considered at June Cabinet and agreed through the consultation process they are surplus and to retain surplus sites would result in unnecessary expenditure being incurred.

For item 3 there is no reasonable alternative, the council is bound by the terms of the lease with the Housing Association.