Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Councillor Graham Lawman, Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets to the meeting.  The Assistant Director of Assets and Environment was unable to attend the meeting and the Executive Director of Place and Economy presented the report.

The Scrutiny Commission considered a report of the Assistant Director of Assets and Environment which provided an initial scoping document to set the terms of a possible scrutiny review into Asset Realisation and Use which had been identified as part of the Scrutiny Workplan.  The report was marked as item 5 on the agenda.

The purpose of a scrutiny review was:

•      To understand the Council’s assets and ensure that they were being utilised appropriately.

•      To develop methodologies around the use and cost of assets against the value those assets brought to the community.

•      To understand how cost efficient the Council’s buildings were.

•      To provide recommendations on the commercial use of our assets and opportunities.

•      To understand whether buildings should be rationalised.

During discussion, the following principle points were noted:

i.     It was noted that the asset list was a vast document which only included general fund assets and not Housing Revenue Account assets.  It only covered those assets NNC owned and those buildings that we had control over, such as through a lease with a third party.

ii.    With regard to our commercial buildings, it was explained that the carbon footprint fell to the tenant as they had responsibility for the fixture and fittings and utilities used.  However, NNC had an aim to make those buildings as energy efficient as possible.

iii.   It was acknowledged that home working and the Future Ways of Working Strategy may have an impact on our future use of assets.

iv.   It was noted that NCALC was undertaking a project around asset mapping for town and parish councils through the government’s Community Renewal Fund Programme and had been awarded a grant to take this work forward.

v.    The proposed review was welcomed by Members who believed that the outcome could be used in a positive way for the community.  The review would need to factor in the community benefit of our assets, and this was an area Members would have a key role in with their local knowledge.

vi.   The Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets stated that he welcomed the proposed review, especially the opportunity to bring in social value and local knowledge.  He explained that condition surveys of assets were underway and that the costs to bring them up to date may influence future views.  There were also cost implications as some buildings did not hold EPC certificates.  The asset mapping by NCALC would be beneficial as we would be able to see what assets were in an area that the town or parish council may wish to manage in the future.  There was also a need to relocate some NNC staff out of One Angel Square by the end of the financial year.  Policies for Assets of Community Value and Community Asset Transfer were currently being developed.

vii.  It was noted that a lot of work was already being undertaken by officers and the Scrutiny Commission would add more value with a Scrutiny Panel being established to meet as and when needed to support this work.  It was proposed that a Scrutiny Panel of five members, including a member from each of the four previous sovereign authority areas, should be established.

RESOLVED:-

(i)        To establish a Scrutiny Panel consisting of five elected members, from which there will be at least one member from each of the previous sovereign council areas.

(ii)       To note the draft Asset Realisation and Use scoping paper and that it will be reviewed by the Scrutiny Panel at its first meeting.

(iii)      That the Chair of the Scrutiny Panel be appointed at its first meeting.

(iv)      That the Assistant Director of Assets and Environment be appointed as the officer lead for the Scrutiny Panel.