Issue - meetings

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the attached report.

RESOLVED –  That Full Council be recommended that the Asset Management Plan 2021/22 be adopted

REASON FOR DECISION:

The Plan supports the Council’s Corporate Priorities in the Five Year Plan.

Katie Exon, Corporate Property Manager and John Antoniades, Estates Manager, introduced the report that provided a management strategy for the Council’s property assets for 2021/22.

Discussion and responses to Members questions included the following:

-       Since the report had been written, the Council had now let 33 Monson Road.

-       The public consultation had now been completed.

-       The comments received mainly focused on the Town Hall and the Assembly Hall Theatre and could be broken down into 3 main areas:

o   The public’s belief that a decision had already been taken to dispose of both buildings;

o   A request for further public consultation prior to any building disposal; and

o   The public being opposed to the disposal of the buildings.

-       The Asset Management Plan wasn’t site specific and not intended to be a development brief.  Given this, it should be noted that a number of consultation responses received fell outside the plans remit.

-       Any consideration for asset disposal would follow due process including internal and external consultation.

-       Concern had been raised previously of the £9m spend on Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre included in the report.  To clarify and provide assurance, the £9m was over a 10 year period and no spend was forecast for either this year or next year.  The money not only covered the fabric of the building, but also covered plant and equipment renewals e.g. swimming pools and sports hall flooring. 

RESOLVED –  That Full Council be recommended that the Asset Management Plan 2021/22 be adopted

REASON FOR DECISION:

The Plan supports the Council’s Corporate Priorities in the Five Year Plan.

To consider and provide a recommendation to Cabinet on the proposals set out in the attached report.

John Antoniades, Estates Manager introduced the report that provided a management strategy for the Council’s property assets for 2021/22.

Discussion and responses to Members questions included the following:

-       The Asset Management Plan was currently out to public consultation.

-       The consultation period ended on 22 January 2021.

-       The figures would be subject to minor amendment until Cabinet on 4 February 2021.  In particular, sales listed on page 155 of the report were projected so whilst Hornbeam had been sold, the land at Sychem Lane was scheduled to complete this financial year, but had not yet completed.

-       Once the Amelia Scott project had been completed the Council would need to undertake a complete revaluation.

-       The Council, under no circumstances would look to sell assets no matter their worth (‘Fire Sell’).  The disposal of any asset would have to go through due process.  The Council was not allowed to sell any asset below its value.

-       The maintenance cost for the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centres had been reviewed recently.  The Council had been careful to identify the full cost of any potential liabilities should there be any changes to the current contract with Fusion.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations to Cabinet as set out in the report be supported.