Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Corporate Director Transformation, Housing and Resources.

Councillor Yates introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, which set out an approach for the Council to improve the corporate management of its property assets, the requirement to procure assistance from an external provider to collect and present data and to advise on the Council's non-housing property portfolio, and sought approval, subject to funding, to advertise the project to suppliers.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the minute of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the report be noted and the principle to develop a strategy for the corporate management of General Revenue Account (GRA) property assets be approve, as, or broadly in line with the basic outline set out in Appendix A to the report.

B.     That, subject to the approval of the 2023/24 budget at Council on 24 February 2023, as part of the development of a strategy the Council procures, funds and implements the work set out in the brief in Appendix B.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director Transformation, Housing and Resources.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources as contained on pages 637 to 662 of the Book of Reports, which set out an approach for the Council to improve the corporate management of its property assets. The report presents the need to procure assistance from an external provider to collect and present data and to advise on the Council's non-housing property portfolio, and seeks approval, subject to funding to advertise the project to suppliers.

The Interim Estates and Valuations Officer outlined the report and responded to comments and questions raised by Members.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

• Whether the use of a fixed term post would be more effective than using an external provider
• The need for further work to refine and focus the project requirements and scope
• That elements of the work could be dealt with internally e.g. GIS
• That some data for premises in relation to CAD plans and asbestos management reports should be available already

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and passed to Cabinet for their consideration.

(Note: Councillor Pope left the meeting during consideration of this item).