Agenda item

(a)  That the guiding principles set out in the report and in the appendix, to inform the proposed future Estate Strategy be approved.

(b)  That a report will be brought back to Cabinet in December 2023 with a recommended strategy document.

The Lead Member for assets introduced a report that set out the current position in the development of a Phase I Estate Strategy for the Council.  He stated that it was best practice for local authorities to have an estate strategy to drive decision making on the management of the authority’s property portfolio and it was a significant gap that the Council had not had such a strategy in the past.

The report had been reviewed by the Cabinet Committee at its meeting held on 14^th September 2023 and approval was sought to approve the guiding principles to inform the proposed future Estate Strategy.  These principles would provide a steer for the completion of the strategy and enable Members to provide early input.

The report was supported by an appendix on the Estate Strategy baseline review which contained exempt information.  This was considered by the Cabinet during Part I of the meeting without disclosing any of the exempt information.

The Cabinet welcomed the development of the strategy and Lead Members commented on the approach they were taking towards asset management to ensure it was properly aligned to the Council’s recovery and future operating model.  Several Lead Members commented that having good plans in place for asset management and disposals would enable the new administration to deliver its manifesto commitment not to sell the towns cemetery and crematorium.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Cabinet agreed the recommendations and noted that a report would come back to Cabinet in December 2023.

Resolved –

(a)  That the guiding principles set out in the report and in the appendix, to inform the proposed future Estate Strategy be approved.

(b)  That a report will be brought back to Cabinet in December 2023 with a recommended strategy document.

(Having declared an interest at the start of the meeting Councillor Ahmed left the Cabinet table and sat in the public gallery to signify that he would not be participating in the Asset Disposal Programme Update item)