Decision details

This proposal relates to the future service delivery of the County Council.

Matthew Tidmarsh, Head of Asset Management, presented a report setting out the methodology to enable the council to achieve a sustainable long term reduction in its property portfolio, in line with the Corporate Strategy. It was reported that it was intended that around half of the 220 properties under consideration in the ownership of the County Council would be retained for future use.

The strategy would lead to the creation of "Neighbourhood Centres", multi-functional premises which would form the basis of service delivery in an area. It was made clear that the report now presented was a methodology for achieving this change and not at this stage a list of properties to be retained or disposed of, which would require further analysis.

It was confirmed that the County Council would work extensively with partner organisations to explore options for shared facilities.

Resolved: That

1.  the proposed strategy for the reduction of the County Council's corporate operational property and methodology for the delivery of public facing services from a series of multi-functional 'Neighbourhood Centres' be approved

2.  the evaluation of identified datasets and subsequent consultation on the recommendations for the final selection of premises to become Neighbourhood Centres be approved.

3.  approval be given for contact to be made with relevant public sector partners, including the voluntary sector, to explore opportunities for co-location and sharing of service delivery. 

4.  approval be given for the estimated cost of works required to premises to deliver the Property Strategy (Neighbourhood Centres) to be added to the Capital Programme, and that detailed phasing of the required expenditure be  provided in subsequent reports.