Agenda item

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices, and discussion, the Executive agreed:

1. To authorise the Service Director Strategic Asset Management, in consultation with the interim Head of Legal Services, and the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets to execute the disposal of the surplus non-operational assets as set out in paragraphs 30.1 to 30.22 

2. To note that disposal of some of these surplus non-operational assets will result in a loss of future income to the Council and to approve the net income loss as a consequential pressure on the budget within Strategic Asset Management, to be funded by appropriate financial adjustments in budget monitoring and the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).  

3. Financial details are contained in Confidential Appendix A.  

4. That Appendix A is to be regarded as exempt information and to be treated in confidence, as the case for the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing that information. 

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bill Revans, invited the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning, and Assets, Cllr Ros Wyke, to introduce the report. Cllr Wyke highlighted the consideration of every asset as part of the capitalisation direction.

Oliver Woodhams, Service Director – Strategic Asset Management, added to these points: that the ask of Executive was to delegate the ability to dispose of assets, that there had been a lot of feedback from Scrutiny, that the wider implications in other areas such as primary schools had been considered.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bill Revans, invited comments from Committee Members and other Members present. Questions and points raised included: the ongoing cost of managing assets and the need for disposal; that councillors have been kept well informed for that process, acknowledgement of the hard work of the team; the importance of communication with parish and town councils regarding assets; the need to take impact on communities and economic impact into account; that all disposals would have a covenants where appropriate to protect the council (for example, land in Dulverton will have a covenant to remain industrial land); how tenants and usage may affect value and buyer interest; the future of the Tourist Information Centre in Taunton; concern about development on specific sites; how disposals fit in to the commitment to maintaining county farm estates; the procedure for assets sold at auction; the impact on the overall Firepool project; when further communication would be provided regarding each asset disposal.

The Leader of the Council concluded the discussion and proceeded to vote on the recommendations, which were agreed unanimously.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices, and discussion, the Executive agreed:

1. To authorise the Service Director Strategic Asset Management, in consultation with the interim Head of Legal Services, and the Lead Member for Economic Development, Planning and Assets to execute the disposal of the surplus non-operational assets as set out in paragraphs 30.1 to 30.22 

2. To note that disposal of some of these surplus non-operational assets will result in a loss of future income to the Council and to approve the net income loss as a consequential pressure on the budget within Strategic Asset Management, to be funded by appropriate financial adjustments in budget monitoring and the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).  

3. Financial details are contained in Confidential Appendix A.  

4. That Appendix A is to be regarded as exempt information and to be treated in confidence, as the case for the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing that information.