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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

RECORD OF RECOMMENDATION OF THE

Cabinet TO COUNCIL

ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN

Issue for Decision

To consider the asset management plan for 2010-13.

Recommendation Made

That the Asset Management Plan 2010-2013, as attached at Appendix A, which sets out the Council’s asset strategy for the next three years, be adopted.

Reasons for Recommendation

On 20 May 2010, the Cabinet considered the Record of Recommendation of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and resolved to recommend the Asset Management Plan 2010-2013, as amended, to Council.

At the meeting of the Cabinet on 20 May 2010, Members were informed that two properties had been omitted from the Asset Management Plan and a revised Appendix E was circulated at the meeting.  This amendment also affected the total asset figure, which has increased from £71.4m to £71.9m.  The Asset Management Plan 2010-2013 has been amended and is attached at Appendix A.

In March 2008, the Council adopted the Asset Management Plan 2008/11 as the Council’s property strategy for the following three years.  A downturn in the economic climate, the regeneration agenda, initiatives for shared accommodation, recent changes in the Council’s accommodation, an ambitious capital programme and environmental issues call for a new strategy to deal with the management of the portfolio over the next three years.

The main issues covered in the updated strategy include:

●      Building on the recent investment in assets such as the new Offices, the Gateway, the new Depot, the Leisure Centre and the Crematorium;

●      Moving forward on ambitious capital projects such as the Museum East Wing, Mote Park improvements and the High Street improvements;

●      Continuing to improve on the condition, efficiency and environmental performance of Council assets;

●      Using the Council’s assets to promote regeneration and local business and to provide support to the capital programme;

●      Transferring or selling assets to the local community;

●      Reviewing the ownership, use and sharing assets across all public agencies in Kent

Consultation with Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee took place on 2^nd February. The committee supported the Asset Management Plan and made two recommendations. Firstly, that information on future plans for gypsy sites be included, and that key performance measures be checked to ensure that they clearly measured their related actions to deliver objectives. Both of these recommendations have been incorporated into plan. The Scrutiny Committee Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan is attached as Appendix B to the report of the Head of Business Improvement.

Alternatives considered and why not recommended

The alternative course of action would be not to approve the updated Asset Management Plan, but this is not considered appropriate as it is the duty of a well run Authority to strategically manage its assets to reflect current and planned needs.

Background Papers

None

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