Agenda item

14.1

Sheffield City Council holds a substantial portfolio of land and property assets some of which are no longer required for the delivery of services to the public. This report seeks approval of a Disposals Framework for council land and property.

The Framework provides guidance to decision makers, officers and Elected Members to ensure that the Council is compliant with its legal, financial and statutory duties.

14.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Sub-Policy Committee:-

1.     That the attached Disposals Framework be adopted as Council Policy.

2.     That the Council’s Chief Property Officer be authorised in consultation with the Chair of Finance Sub-Committee and the Director of Legal Services to revise and reissue the Disposals Framework as required.

14.3

Reasons for Decision

14.3.1

Disposal of Land and Property by public authorities can be controversial and there has been recent scrutiny of a number of Local Authorities regarding estate management practice, disposals and achieving best value in property transactions. It is therefore important that decision makers, Officers and Elected Members are provided with clear guidelines and procedures for good governance to reduce the risk of challenge.

14.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

14.4.1

The main alternative option is to continue using the Disposals Framework approved by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources in 2013. However, this does not take account on the new governance arrangements and committee system introduced in 2022, recent case law and best value reviews of Local Authorities and best practice, neither does it fully address certain areas of policy such as disposal at less than best consideration. This leaves the Council at risk of exposure to challenge and the requirement to use scarce resources to defend actions.

13.1

The Head of Property Services presented the report which outlined that Sheffield City Council holds a substantial portfolio of land and property assets some of which are no longer required for the delivery of services to the public. This report seeks approval of a Disposals Framework for council land and property.

The Framework provides guidance to decision makers, officers and Elected Members to ensure that the Council is compliant with its legal, financial and statutory duties.

13.2

Members raised questions and gave comments, and responses were given surrounding views on disposals, estate management, accommodation review and household waste recovery site.

13.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Finance Sub-Policy Committee:-

1.    That the attached Disposals Framework be adopted as Council Policy.

2.    That the Council’s Chief Property Officer be authorised in consultation with the Chair of Finance Sub-Committee and the Director of Legal Services to revise and reissue the Disposals Framework as required.

13.4

Reasons for Decision

13.4.1

Disposal of Land and Property by public authorities can be controversial and there has been recent scrutiny of a number of Local Authorities regarding estate management practice, disposals and achieving best value in property transactions. It is therefore important that decision makers, Officers and Elected Members are provided with clear guidelines and procedures for good governance to reduce the risk of challenge.

13.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

13.5.1

The main alternative option is to continue using the Disposals Framework approved by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources in 2013. However, this does not take account on the new governance arrangements and committee system introduced in 2022, recent case law and best value reviews of Local Authorities and best practice, neither does it fully address certain areas of policy such as disposal at less than best consideration. This leaves the Council at risk of exposure to challenge and the requirement to use scarce resources to defend actions.