It was moved by Councillor Hotson, seconded by Councillor Garland, that subject to the amendment of the document to reflect the recent decision of the Cabinet to proceed with the demolition of the King Street Multi-Storey Car Park and the submission of a planning application for the construction of a surface level car park whilst continuing to seek development opportunities for the longer term use of the site, the recommendation of the Cabinet relating to the adoption of the revised Asset Management Plan 2012-15 be approved.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the amendment of the document to reflect the recent decision of the Cabinet to proceed with the demolition of the King Street Multi-Storey Car Park and the submission of a planning application for the construction of a surface level car park whilst continuing to seek development opportunities for the longer term use of the site, the revised Asset Management Plan 2012-15, attached as Appendix A to the report of the Cabinet, be adopted.

Interviews with:

·  Councillor Hotson, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services; and

·  David Tibbit, Property and Procurement Manager

The Chairman welcomed David Tibbit, Property and Procurement Manager and Councillor Eric Hotson, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services to the meeting.  Mr Tibbit introduced the Asset Management Plan 2012-15, an update on the Plan published in 2010.  He explained that it set out how the Council would manage its property for the next three years. Its focus was to build on recent investment. The key actions of the Asset Management Plan were:

·  Maidstone House – Letting the vacant 1^st floor area, improving energy consumption and implementing closer control of environmental conditions;

·  Town Hall – Letting the vacant entrance foyer, increasing the usage of the remaining areas and carrying out external redecoration and repairs;

·  King Street multi-storey car park – Securing a short term tenant and establishing a plan for the longer term future of the site;

·  Chillington House – Relocating residual functions to the Museum and progressing a subsequent freehold or leasehold disposal of the building;

·  Park Wood Industrial Estate – Implementation of a proactive management plan; and

·  Community Assets – Transfer of Beechwood Hall, Fant Hall and Heather House to local community groups and exploration of the opportunity of further asset transfers.

The Officer highlighted two recent amendments to the document. The first was the date of the lease break clause for Maidstone House.  This had been amended from 2015 to October 2016 (page 18, 6.3.7) and the second was a change to the wording which referenced ‘the integrated parking strategy.’  This now read ‘an integrated parking strategy (page 21, 6.8.1). Members felt that the ambiguity of the reference to the implementation of an integrated parking strategy which was still under development was conflicting with the detail given later in the document (page 26, 8.3) on regeneration which referenced car parks.

The Committee considered the Council’s empty properties: the future use of the Town Hall and the decision to relocate the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) to the Museum and King Street Car Park. The Cabinet Member explained that the Town Hall would be utilised as part of Jubilee Square and Officers were tasked with increasing its usage. The decision to move the TIC was a staffing issue. With regards to King Street Car Park, Members were informed that this matter was being considered. It would cost a significant amount to ensure safety standards were met to keep the car park in use but it did provide the Council with an income.  Agents were engaged to let the empty shop premises and it was advertised nationally.  Associated issues highlighted to the Committee was the cost of business rates to the Council when a property remained empty and the depressed property market which could prevent the Council disposing of properties that no longer had a revenue use to the authority.

Members were happy that possibilities were being explored with regards to King Street car park but felt that a definite process should be defined within the plan for dealing with empty properties and this should include larger sites of amenity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18