Agenda item

Property Asset Management Strategy & Property Review

Minutes:

Background:

The report provided the Cabinet withan updated Property Asset Management Strategy (PAMS) which would help the Council meet the challenges of the CIPFA Resilience Review January 2024. This recommended that the Council should carry out a property review to identify surplus property assets.

Alongside the updated Strategy, the report also presented phase 1 of the resulting property review in relation to those non-operational property assets which had been identified as being suitable for being declared surplus, so that they could potentially be disposed of, following appropriate consultation with stakeholders, including the Council’s Corporate Landlord Board (CLB).

It was noted that all sites would be give careful consideration before any disposal decisions were made. Where communities considered that an asset had particular value, it was encouraged that these be submitted for possible inclusion on the register of Assets of Community Value. It was also noted that Medway Council was not required to publish the assets that would be considered for disposal but it had chosen to do so to ensure full transparency.

The report had previously been considered by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 October 2024 and its comments were set out in section 9 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

Plans of the properties located in Medway were attached to the report at Appendix 3, and an Exempt Appendix 1 to the report, contained further details of all properties recommended for disposal.

*Decision* *number:*	*Decision:*
	The Cabinet noted the comments of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as set out in section 9 of the report.
128/2024	The Cabinet agreed the updated Property Asset Management Strategy (PAMS), as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
129/2024	The Cabinet declared the following non-operational properties surplus [as set out in decision Nos 129a/2024 to 129ac/2024], and agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Place in consultation with the Corporate Landlord Board (CLB), to agree the method of disposal for each property and to dispose of the properties in order to obtain the best price reasonably obtainable
129a/2024	Land to the South- east of the end of Northdane Way, Lordswood
129b/2024	Land at 126-150 Chatham Hill
129c/2024	Warren Wood Social Club, Rochester
129d/2024	Rainham District Shopping Centre
129e/2024	Industrial Estate - Railway Street, Gillingham
129f/2024	Indoor Bowls Club, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham
129g/2024	Gillingham Business Park
129h/2024	Northbank House, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Rochester
129i/2024	Ground Floor Shop 23-25 High Street, Brompton
129j/2024	Britton Farm Shopping Centre, High Street, Gillingham
129k/2024	Former Fire Station and Public Toilets Arches, New Cut, Chatham
129l/2024	Unit 1 Court Farm Industrial Estate, Cwmbran, Gwent Wales
129m2024	Unit 1 Cherry Trees Court, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
129n/2024	Vantage Point, Holborough Road, Snodland, Kent
129o/2024	Eldon Road, Aycliffe Industrial Estate, Newton Aycliffe
129p/2024	Saxon Business Park, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
129q/2024	Suffolk Business Park, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
129r/2024	Unit 5 Deans Industrial Estate, Livingstone, Scotland
129s/2024	19 Lords Fold, Rainford, Merseyside
129t/2024	Unit A1 Boothroyds Way, Pontefract, West Yorkshire
129u/2024	Viking Park, Whitehill, Bordon, Hampshire
129v/2024	Temple Manor, Knight Road, Strood, Rochester
129w/2024	Site of 121-129 The Brook, Chatham
129x/2024	Eastcourt & Mariners Fields Farmland adjacent to Riverside Country Park, Gillingham
129y/2024	Land and building rear of 70 Maidstone Road, Rochester
129z/2024	Stirling Sports Centre, Maidstone Road, Rochester
129aa/2024	Eastgate Cottage, High Street, Rochester
129ab/2024	Land at Abbotts Court Farm, Bredhurst, Gillingham
129ac/2024	Gillingham Golf Club, Woodlands Road, Gillingham
130/2024	The Cabinet recommended the Chief Executive use urgency provisions to approve an addition to the Capital Programme for a budget of up to £400,000 p.a. for up to 3 years, to fund the cost of additional staff required to dispose of the surplus properties. This expenditure was to be funded from the resultant capital receipts, under flexibilities granted by the Government.

Reasons:

The updated Property Asset Management Strategy (PAMS) will help the Council to meet the challenges of the CIPFA Resilience Review January 2024. The Review also recommended that the Council carry out a property review to identify surplus property assets.

To generate revenue savings and capital receipts for the Council.

To free up properties, which could be disposed of and used by the private and third sectors to deliver development, including much needed housing.

Supporting documents: