Consideration was given to the report of the
Joint Deputy Chief Executive – Programme Delivery and
Assistant Director – General Fund Assets which provided an
update on the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership
Asset Management Strategy 2023-2028.
The Joint Deputy Chief Executive –
Programme Delivery and Assistant Director – General Fund
Assets introduced the report.
- The South and East Lincolnshire
Councils Partnership Asset Management Strategy 2023-2028, approved
by Council in May 2023, was at Appendix A;
- A progress update against five
strategic priorities was outlined within the covering report, with
more work to do.
Members considered the report and made the
following comments:
- Members thanked the officers and
Portfolio Holder for the achievements outlined within the
report.
Regarding Strategic Priority 2:
- Members queried the capacity of the
council’s Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).
- The Joint Deputy Chief Executive
– Programme Delivery and Assistant Director – General
Fund Assets responded that the UPS covered the whole building as
well as the IT infrastructure. The UPS specification gave the
council a minimum battery power period of two hours to drawdown its
systems in the event of total power loss. This was a sufficient
period for the generator to be engaged, enabling business
continuity.
- Members asked for a tour of the
acquired former Travis Perkins site.
o
The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and
Community Leadership understood that plans for a site visit had
been discussed by the Assistant Director – Environmental
Services and that appropriate communications would be circulated
once this was possible; and
- The Joint Deputy Chief Executive
– Programme Delivery and Assistant Director – General
Fund Assets responded that investment in the facility had taken
place subsequent to acquisition of the asset, with further
remodelling planned to increase usage and add value.
- Members noted the £200,000
investment for the remodelling of the Sheep Market toilets, which
had recently been completed, and gave credit to the team involved.
The public had also given positive feedback for the facility via
social media. A discussion ensued
around the rationalisation of public toilets and whether other
facilities around the district would be upgraded. Whilst some
members suggested that an investigation of public toilet usage data
could inform a potential rationalisation exercise, other members
strongly supported the safeguarding and upgrading of current
facilities to retain and attract visitors to the district’s
towns, and that further investment in the facilities was needed.
- The Joint Deputy Chief Executive
– Programme Delivery and Assistant Director – General
Fund Assets responded that whilst a budget for further upgrades had
not been allocated in the current financial year, members were
encouraged to suggest sites for improvement ahead of the next
budget setting process; and
o
The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and
Community Leadership added that a funding proposal for additional
toilet upgrades, such as for the Winfrey Avenue/Spalding Bus
Station may be made through the Long Term Plan for Towns. Further
advice should be sought from the Assistant Director –
Economic Growth.
- Members asked whether any criminal
damage to the Sheep Market toilet facility would be covered by
CCTV.
- The Assistant Director –
Wellbeing and Community Leadership stated that the upgraded CCTV
system covering the Sheep Market was sophisticated and its ability
to identify colours of clothing had assisted with supportive
evidence gathering for the police. The specific coverage of the
CCTV at the Sheep Market facility would be checked; and
- The Joint Deputy Chief Executive
– Programme Delivery and Assistant Director – General
Fund Assets added that the design of the facility limited the
extent of any potential criminal damage.
- Members were pleased to note the
transfer of certain playparks and open spaces from SHDC to Parish
Councils.
- The Joint Deputy Chief Executive
– Programme Delivery and Assistant Director – General
Fund Assets responded that:
- Assurance was given that all
contractual arrangements made with Parish Councils protected the
future financial position of SHDC;
- Quadring
Parish Council and Fleet Parish Council had approached SHDC
regarding the transfer of the land noted within the report.
Discussions were welcomed where Parishes had similar ambitions
regarding SHDC owned land within their boundaries; and
- It was to be noted that each
disposal process was dependent upon the specific land area and
value, and could be subject to complexities.
- Members enquired whether a map
existed which identified land owned by SHDC and Parishes.
- The Joint Deputy Chief Executive
– Programme Delivery and Assistant Director – General
Fund Assets responded that , upon receipt of a specific request,
bespoke information could be extracted from a Geographic
Information System; and
- The Assistant Director –
Wellbeing and Community Leadership referred members to the
‘Public web maps’ tool available from the SHDC website
(Maps).
AGREED:
a)
That the progress made in respect of South Holland be noted;
and
b)
That the comments of the Panel be noted by the Portfolio
Holder.