Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet recommend that Council approve:

1. the Strategic Asset Management Plan 2025-28 (‘SAMP’) and the high-level actions which flow from the Plan;

2. the Asset Disposal Policy;

3. the Community Asset Transfer policy;

4. the re-direction of the £1.5 million Corporate Priorities reserve to support the delivery of the SAMP, resulting in the full budget equalisation reserve being available to support budget preparation over the medium-term period;

5. the approval of a delegation to the Strategic Director Corporate Resources and Transformation to drawdown the Corporate Priorities reserve for the purposes of SAMP delivery, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources; and

6. the approval of a delegation to the Chief Executive and Strategic Director Corporate Resources and Transformation in their positions as Transformation Board members, to take decisions in accordance with the Governance arrangements as set out in the SAMP and associated policies.

KEY DECISION:

Report to Cabinet and Council

PORTFOLIO:

Finance and Corporate

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in the report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

None

DISCUSSION:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate introduced the item and highlighted that the Council had a duty to ensure that its assets were well managed. From this, the Council was keen to see any opportunities explored for the potential transfer of its open spaces or assets to Town and Parish Councils, where appropriate.

The Assistant Director for Transformation stated that the report and its appendices were a detailed documentation that provides important structure and framework for the handling of the Councils assets, shaped around the delivery of five pillars that contain interlinked objectives. The plan was a high-level roadmap of realistic actions within a short time frame.  The plan had been considered by the Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel which had commented on the document and agreed that it was a comprehensive and positive plan. There were two constructive suggestions made by the Panel, highlighted by the Chairman of the Panel as requesting more information on the time limits facing the Council and the involvement of Ward members in the process.  The Panel understood that the plan’s delivery would need to take place at speed.

A non-Cabinet member asked whether Town and Parish Councils could be given the opportunity to apply for the transfer of assets. The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate encouraged Town and Parish Councils to feedback on the process.  However, it was acknowledged that the Council would need to consider the significant time constraints and resource demands in setting a programme of activity in this area.