Barnet Council denies new estate strategy which moots library sales is for raising revenue (From Times Series)

Barnet Council denies new estate strategy which moots library sales is for raising revenue

4:59pm Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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BARNET Council says a draft paper outlining principles for disposing of council buildings is not about revenue raising.

The new document, due to be considered at a scrutiny committee this evening, “guesstimates” £37m being raised in the next three years, before a strategy is brought into place.

The first paragraph of the acquisition and disposals strategy states: “The need for disposals strategy is rooted in the drive to release capital so that funds can be allocated to meet Councils [sic] core purpose. This need is also shaped largely by the lack of central government grant in the short to medium term for a wide range of capital needs to support the Councils [sic] corporate priorities and indeed statutory obligations.”

Councillor Daniel Thomas, who looks after finances for the council, said: “The council has a duty to the taxpayer to manage it's estate in a forward thinking manner.  “We can’t afford to automatically assume that the buildings we have now will be the buildings we will need in the future.  “For example, is it sensible to own an old building with limited use and high maintenance costs when we could lease a new building for less? This early draft paper raises some relevant questions about how we manage the council's estate and is a good opportunity for councillors to put forward their views.”

A spokesman for the council told the times Series the document was not about raising revenue, but refused to put together an official statement denying assets would be sold off to bolster the projected 30 per cent revenue gap over the next three years.

In the “radical” document officers consider the possibility of selling libraries, Hendon Town Hall and “entire schools if the duties could still be discharged”.

It also asks whether schools could be rebuilt on other site to make “net gains” on more existing current sites.

The report does recognise residential and commercial property values are down in recent months.

However, it also states, whilst it is a draft, “some Priority disposals could be considered now, subject to a steer on the above factors and reviewed valuations showing up to date asset values”.

Museums are mentioned in the “Priority One” first tranche of assets which have a “clear market value now”, adding “possibly the time has passed for the council to own and manage assets for instance museums”.

Under the heading Priority Two it states: “These could be types of property where strategies are being written already such as for our libraries or say agricultural holdings which are complex in terms of public engagement and third party interests but there could be a genuine case with safeguards to make disposals.”