Issue - meetings

To receive the information report on the Council’s asset management.

The Committee received the report on Asset management, introduced by Dinesh Kotecha, Head of Corporate Property Services.

In response to comments that wider use of community buildings should be encouraged the Head of Corporate Property Services advised that some leases included provisions about how buildings can be utilised for community provision but not all. HAVECO (Haringey Association of Voluntary and Community Organisations) recently led a workshop to explore ways to encourage wider use of council buildings and some organisations had let-out buildings to assist with rent payment.  This would be explored further as part of a forthcoming scrutiny review.

A Committee Member asked for a briefing note on the annual income of investment properties; what the net income was to the Council (including the difference between commercial and non-commercial incomes); what the current void percentage was and the associated loss in rent and an explanation of the £86,000 value of community assets (Action no. 122.1).

A Co-opted Member highlighted that the communication in relation to the refurbishment of Tottenham Town Hall was misleading.  The Head of Corporate Property Services would provide a briefing note explaining that housing would be developed behind Tottenham Town Hall and the Town Hall would be refurbished and used as a business base with some community access in a similar way to the redevelopment of Hornsey Town Hall (Action no. 122.2).

The Committee requested a briefing note on what properties the Council owned in Lawrence Road (Action 122.3).

In response to concerns raised about lease renewals and large rent increases the Head of Corporate Property Services explained that there had been delays in the renewal of leases in previous years and as a result there was a backlog (of which 95% had since been cleared).  Tenants had always been notified that rent reviews were due and to allow budget provisions, however, payment plans were agreed with tenants who had difficulties in paying the increases.

The Committee highlighted their concerns about the delay to building work to the Laurels Health Centre and noted the delay was due to the PCT commencing building works without the appropriate planning consent.  More information would be circulated to Committee Members (Action no. 122.4).

RESOLVED to note the report.