Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (TBS/24/7), outlining Phase 2 of the Property Change Programme, attached.

RESOLVED that the following sites be declared surplus to the Council’s requirements and disposal is progressed:

 The Hive, Exmouth (noting this site has already been declared surplus as set out in section 3B of the Report)

 2-4 Meeting Street, Exmouth

 Rosalind House Gardens, Tiverton

 Lea Combe, Axminster

 Sowton Industrial Estate Residual Land Freeholds, Exeter.

(Councillors Biederman and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Transformation and Business Services (TBS/24/7), outlining phase 2 of the Property Change Programme, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Report highlighted that the Property Strategy focused on four key principles; Reduce, Dispose, Retain, and Repurpose which aimed to transform the corporate estate and form the methodology for reviewing the future use of assets.

The Report also gave an update on the Phase 1 property decisions which had been agreed at Cabinet in October 2023 (Larkbeare House, Exeter, Compass House, Ivybank, Exeter, Former Matford Offices land, Exeter, St Georges Road Youth Centre, Barnstaple and Pottington Industrial Unit, Barnstaple) and showed the capital receipts generated from the sale of property assets (listing each site) for 23/24. The Cabinet noted that capital receipts for 24/25 were anticipated to be in the region of £7 million.

The Report gave an update on site repurposing proposals, outlining that Copperfields, Exmouth, Newholme, Honiton and Rosalind House, Tiverton had been identified as being suitable for ‘Staying Close’ accommodation and the Council would look to repurpose these to accommodate children in care in Devon.

The Proposed Phase Two Disposals were outlined at section 3(b).

·             2-4 Meeting Street, Exmouth

·             Rosalind House Gardens, Tiverton

·             Lea Combe, Axminister

·             Sowton Industrial Estate Residual Land Freeholds, Exeter

·             The Hive in Exmouth was formally declared surplus to requirements on 14^th March 2024 by Delegated Member Decision.

Other key property updates in Exmouth, Tiverton and Tavistock were given, relating to the Kennaway Centre in Exmouth and Oaklands Court in Tiverton and how the buildings were being utilised. It was noted that in both Tavistock and Newton Abbot, an assessment and review of office accommodation was underway. 

The Cabinet noted that as well as the capital receipts generated, there would be reduced revenue costs of approximately circa £50,000 – £100,000 per annum and an avoidance of backlog maintenance investment requirements in the region of circa £400,000.

In summary, the occupancy statistics demonstrated that the Council could reduce its portfolio without detriment to services and the property change programme would reduce the carbon footprint, provide value for money, generate capital receipts, and reduce revenue expenditure contributing towards the financial sustainability of the authority. 

The property portfolio would be reviewed as part of an ongoing rolling programme to ensure the estate was aligned to the corporate priorities, including making best use of assets and buildings. 

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Director’s Report having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes, and

RESOLVED that the following sites be declared surplus to the Council’s requirements and disposal is progressed: 

·       The Hive, Exmouth (noting this site has already been declared surplus as set out in section 3B of the Report)

·       2-4 Meeting Street, Exmouth

·       Rosalind House Gardens, Tiverton

·       Lea Combe, Axminster

·       Sowton Industrial Estate Residual Land Freeholds, Exeter.