Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance

The Cabinet Member Finance introduced the Asset Management Plan 2016/17-2020/21, as circulated with the agenda.  The Council’s current Asset Management Plan had been due to expire in 2015 and the production and approval of the replacement Asset Management Plan had been deferred.  This was to allow time for consideration to be given to the advice and suggestions made by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) following their review of the councils approach to asset management.  The Asset Management Working Group (AMWG) had considered the revised plan at their meeting last week.     

A key recommendation of the CIPFA review was that the AMP should be a more dynamic, ‘living’ document which set out broad policies and principles and was supplemented by an Asset Management Strategy or Work Plan; setting the overall strategic direction for the property portfolio, rather than a ‘traditional’ AMP.  The AMP therefore, would be at the centre of all work, helping the council to achieve its core objectives in a range of ways.  To this end, an AMP along with a number of policies, strategies and methodologies had been devised, which, if adopted, would result in transparent decision making.  He noted that CIPFA had acknowledged the ‘great strides’ the council had made in terms of getting under control the physical condition of its property assets, which compared favourably with other local authorities and Appendix I (Planned Maintenance Policy) set out an approach which had been adopted some time ago.  CIPFA were positive about the Cabinet’s role and that of the AMWG, however, they felt that the terms of reference for this group should be widened to allow for a more strategic role, providing more challenge to the portfolio and its performance. Appendix G (Investment Property Portfolio and Decision-making Process) clearly outlined the policy and process for the acquisition of assets and set out to make the process more straightforward, which was important if this was going to be used as a means to do more than simply bridge the gap. 

The Cabinet Member Finance took this opportunity to thank his Property Services colleagues.  The team had been heavily involved in various things including the Midwinter development, the sale of North Place, the lease negotiations for Regents Arcade and the acquisition of Delta House and on a day to day basis managed £287m worth of assets.  Appendix C (AMP – Work Plan) was a comprehensive, yet challenging proposition efforts were being made to build resources within Property Services to enable them to continue to provide major support and even more so in the future. 

Whilst approval of the AMP would enable the council to move forward, it was important to note that many of the suggestions made by CIPFA had been put into practice some time ago.  

The Leader reminded members that this special Cabinet meeting had been convened so that the AMP Plan and policies could be tabled for approval at Council on the 4 April 2016.

Upon a vote it was unanimously

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The Asset Management Plan and supporting Appendices A to K be approved.

2.    Council be recommended to approve the policies set out in the Asset Management Plan.