Agenda item

South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Asset Management Strategy 2023-2028 Annual Update.

To provide an update on the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Asset Management Strategy 2023 – 2028 (report of the Joint Deputy Chief Executive – Programme Delivery and Assistant Director - General Fund Assets enclosed).

 

Minutes:

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.

 

Supporting documents: