Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Financial Sustainability submitted a report in respect of the council’s Draft Strategic Asset Management Plan 2023 – 2028. He said the report presented a refresh of the asset management plan for the next 5 years and this plan worked alongside the capital strategy.

The Executive Member for Financial Sustainability said that the aim was to ensure that all the council’s property assets were performing to the optimum and how they were contributing to the council’s corporate priorities. Members were referred to the Appendix for a full list of the property assets with a valuation and details of any income.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property replied to a query from Councillor Pope in respect of general and earmarked reserves. He said that as at 31 March 2022, significant reserve movements were not made in year and they tended to be year-end entries. Members were advised of reserve funding and grants which could only be used for specific activities such as electoral registration and homelessness.

Councillor Huggins commented on the inequality of residents in rural areas paying for the upkeep of parks and open spaces in urban areas. He said that there was £50,000 a year in the budget for play equipment and there was no clear steer as to the plan for this budget going forward.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property said that now double taxation had been identified Officers needed to assess what the amount was and bring a paper before Members for a considered decision going forward.

Councillor Huggins proposed and Councillor Fernando seconded, a motion that the Executive’s Draft Strategic Asset Management Plan be endorsed for recommendation to Council, subject to the observation made by Councillor Huggins in respect of there being no clear plan for the £50,000 annual budget for play equipment.

RESOLVED – that the Executive’s Draft Strategic Asset Management Plan 2023-2028 be endorsed for recommendation to Council, subject to the observation made by Councillor Huggins in respect of there being no clear plan for the £50,000 annual budget for play equipment.