Agenda item

To consider and, if thought fit, to approve the recommendations set out in the associated report.

Councillor Hall moved, and Councillor Chapelard seconded, the recommendations set out in the report.

Mr Jeremy Thompson had registered to speak, which included the following comments:

·         Concern was raised over the fact that the Wesley Centre has been included within TWBC Asset Surplus.

·         Objection was raised at a council meeting on the 9 Feb 2023.

·         Wesley Centre along with its gardens need to be removed from the list this proposal is supported by the Paddock Wood Town Council and four borough councillors and a County Councillor.

·         The Wesley centre is afforded protection through the Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Plan and the local Plan

·         With the proposed new housing planned for Paddock Wood it does not make sense to dispose of the asset.

·         A consultation of over one hundred responses all supported retaining the Wesley Centre

·         A request was made to the Leader of the Council and the Council to commit to the removal of the Wesley Centre from the Asst list.

Debate included:

• Wesley Centre is an important part of Paddock Wood (PW) heritage and is used extensively by various community groups
• The Wesley centre is one of two community spaces run by TWBC
• Given the planned growth of the town it was surprising to see this property on the asset disposal list
• Paddock Wood already losing a large percentage of green space with the proposed new houses and increase in traffic PW are feeling like they are getting a rough deal from TWBC
• Not only are community centres planned for disposal, but the administration is also planning to sell of five town centre car parks which is a drastic move.
• No strategy has been given to the disposal of car parks, surely a car parking strategy should be developed before any thought is given to disposal of them
• Concern was raised over the fact that Parish or Town Councils would be informed of rather than consulted on any decision.
• If the report this evening in its current form is approved you are giving the green light for up to eleven assets to be sold therefore support cannot be given.
• Full Councill needs to see details of the parking strategy and we need to see details of the short and long-term financial implications of any proposed asset sale

Councillor Bailey moved a revised recommendation to read as follows: Full Council approves and adopts the Asset Management Plan for 2023/24 excluding the list of assets deemed surplus in Appendix 4, which was seconded by Councillor Goodship.

Debate on proposed amendment to Appendix 4.

• Councillor Pound disagreed with the amended on the grounds that the asset management plan is a means of identify assets where the benefits of those assets and the benefits that they accrue from their utilisation need to outweigh the ongoing insignificant costs of maintaining them.
• Or they are they are just no longer useful to the council in the provision of its services. It does not necessarily mean that they are being sold, it means that they are being disposed of by the Council.

• If there are alternative methods of disposals, then they will be explored. Putting an asset on the asset management plan means that officers have the opportunity to work through a process to identify whether assets are still of value to the Council or not
• The five car parks that have been identified and as of, yet the outcome is not known until the strategy review has taken place.
• Concern was raised over the lack of a Car Parking Strategy being in placed before being listed on the Asset Disposals list.
• Disappointment was raised that the Wesley Centre had been added to the Asset list as it did not meet the selection criteria
• The Community Storehouse (Food Bank) and the PW Children’s Centre heavily use the Wesley Centre use the centre two times per week demonstrating the Wesley Centre is not a surplus asset.
• It was acknowledged that there could be some lessons learned with wording within the report could be improved and comments will be noted for the next report submission.

A recorded vote was requested by Councillor Chapelard

Members who voted for the Motion: Councillors Allen, Atwood, Atkins, Bailey Barrington-King, Dawlings, Fairweather, Goodship, (Linda) Hall, March, Moon, (Ms) Palmer, Patterson, Roberts, Wakeman, White (16)

Members who voted against the Motion: Councillors Britcher-Allen, Barras, Bland, Brice, Chapelard, Ellis, Everitt, Fitzsimmons, Funnel, Hayward, (Christopher) Hall, Hickey Hill, Knight, Le Page, Lidstone, McMillan, Morton, Pope, Poile, Pound, Rands, Rogers, Rutland, Sankey, Warne, Wormington, Willis. (28)

Members who voted against the Motion: Councillors: Allen, Attwood, Barrington-King, Bland, Dawlings, Fairweather, Goodship, March, (Ms) Palmer, Roberts, White (11)

Members who abstained from voting: (0)

AMMENDED NOT CARRIED

The debate proceeded on original motion

Debate

• It was raised that the lack of maintenance from the previous administration had led to the neglect and cost increases of the assets.
• Concern was expressed that the PAOP now only represented by members of the Cabinet, this is an oversight, and a very bad call should it continue in this way.
• It was clarified that each individual asset will be reviewed, and this is a process officers will undertake to determine whether the asst is surplus or not
• It was reiterated that the review of assets was required to safeguard the finances of the Council
• It was raised that PW were asked some 10 years ago to produce a plan for the Wesley Centre and as of, yet nothing has materialised, TWBC are open for conversation.

Councillor Chapelard requested a recorded vote

Members who voted for the Motion: Councillors Britcher-Allen, Barras, Brice, Chapelard, Ellis, Everitt, Fitzsimmons, Funnel, Hayward, (Christopher) Hall, Hickey Hill, Knight, Le Page, Lidstone, McMillan, Morton, Patterson, Pope, Poile, Pound, Rands, Rogers, Rutland, Sankey, Warne, Wormington, Willis. (28)

Members who voted against the Motion: Councillors: Atkins, Bailey, Fairweather, Goodship, (Linda) Hall, March, Moon, (Ms) Palmer, Roberts, White Wakeman (11)

Members who abstained from voting Councillors: Allen, Attwood, Barrington-King, Dawlings, Bland (5)

RESOLVED - That Full Council approves and adopts the Asset Management Plan for 2023/24.