Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report that recommended that Avison Young be appointed to support the Asset Disposal Programme for the period between 2022 to 2027.  If agreed, the recommendation would be made to Cabinet.

The importance of the asset disposal programme to the Council’s financial recovery was recognised and it was therefore crucial that the Council had access to expert property and asset disposal advice.  Following a procurement exercise in 2021 Avison Young had been appointed for the Phase 1 stage of the programme.  The report highlighted that Avison Young had performed successfully in providing services in Phase 1 and had demonstrated a good level of performance with the early sale of the initial tranche of assets.

Members discussed how performance could be further improved to help the Council accelerate delivery of the asset disposal programme and maximise capital receipts.  The Executive Director for Housing & Property agreed the importance of good contract management by the Council and set out the areas where more could be achieved from Avison Young.  It was noted that a retendering exercise would take time which would impact on the delivery of the disposal programme.

The Committee sought assurance the proper procurement procedures had been followed and this was confirmed by Officers.

After due consideration, it was agreed to recommend to Cabinet that Avison Young be appointed for the period 2022 to 2027.  The confidential appendix was noted in Part I of the meeting without disclosing any of the exempt information.

Recommended to Cabinet –

That the appointment of Avison Young to support the implementation of the Asset Disposal Strategy for the period 2022 to 2027 be approved, and to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Housing and Property , in consultation with the S151 officer, and subject to legal advice, to enter into contract with Avison Young for property asset disposal related  support services, at an estimated cost of £3.020m, which will be met from the capital receipts generated from asset disposals.