Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 128 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 February 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services advising that the Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy set out the vision and aspirations for the effective management of the Council’s corporate asset portfolio and outlining the role it played in supporting and shaping the Council’s agenda for the 2030 vision. Aside from its staff, the Council's next biggest resource was its land and property and it was vital that this resource was managed and used effectively and efficiently to ensure that the Council derived maximum benefit from its assets in support of its strategic aims and priorities. The Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy would provide a framework for the planning, prioritisation, management and funding of the Council’s asset base. The Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy was a statutory document that the Council was required to have in place and would be reviewed on an annual basis.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Appendix 1 - Asset Management Strategy

·       Appendix 2 - Asset Disposal Policy

It was moved by Councillor Atkinson, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to:

(1)      the updated Asset Management Strategy; and

(2)      the updated Asset Disposal Policy.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 39 of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) held on 6 February 2024, the Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services advising that the Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy set out the vision and aspirations for the effective management of the Council’s corporate asset portfolio and outlining the role it played in supporting and shaping the Council’s agenda for the 2030 vision. Aside from its staff, the Council's next biggest resource was its land and property and it was vital that this resource was managed and used effectively and efficiently to ensure that the Council derived maximum benefit from its assets in support of its strategic aims and priorities. The Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy would provide a framework for the planning, prioritisation, management and funding of the Council’s asset base. The Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy was a statutory document that the Council was required to have in place and would be reviewed on an annual basis.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Appendix 1 - Asset Management Strategy

·       Appendix 2 - Asset Disposal Policy

Decisions Made:

That the Council be recommended to approve:

(1)      the updated Asset Management Strategy; and

(2)      the updated Asset Disposal Policy.

Reasons for the Decisions:

The Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy were key documents for Sefton Council which set out key parameters in respect of the delivery of an efficient and effective property portfolio.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services on the Asset Management Strategy (the Strategy) and Asset Disposal Policy (the Policy) 2024/25.

The report indicated that the Strategy and Policy set out the vision and aspirations for the effective management of the Council’s corporate asset portfolio and the role it played in supporting and shaping the Council’s agenda for the 2030 vision; that aside from its staff, the Council's next biggest resource was its land and property and therefore it was vital that this resource was managed and used effectively and efficiently to ensure that the Council derived maximum benefit from its assets in support of its strategic aims and priorities; that the Strategy and Policy would provide a framework for the planning, prioritisation, management and funding of the Councils asset base; and that this was a statutory document that the Council was required to have in place and would be reviewed on an annual basis.

The Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy 2024/25 were attached as appendices to the report.

This report would also be considered by Cabinet and Council at their meetings to be held on 8 and 29 February 2024 respectively.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       The criteria used for establishing what was an asset to meet the service delivery standard; and how liabilities associated with such assets impacted on the judgement of this.

·       The expectation that disposals would be at market value predicated on the nature of the asset and any agreed mix of uses to obtain best consideration.

·       In respect of the Asset Review, information was requested on the numbers of assets held for operational purposes, assets held for heritage reasons or other designated reasons, assets held to be developed or re-purposed, and asset to be disposed of to create a capital receipt.

·       The asset disposal in respect of the development to the east of Buckley Hill Lane on the former Z Blocks land brownfield site.

·       The list of sites and other property assets that were available for disposal was requested.   

RESOLVED:

That Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy 2024/25 be noted.