To consider the asset management plan for 2010-13

That the Asset Management Plan 2010-2013, attached at Appendix A to the report of the Head of Business Improvement, which sets out the Council’s asset strategy for the next three years, be approved and recommended to Council for adoption.

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.

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.

Consultation with Overview & Scrutiny