Issue - meetings

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(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That the Head of Assets and Transportation consider an appropriate medium for further discussions with Members in due course.

The Head of Assets and Transportation introduced the report to provide an update on the Assets Workstream within the Flintshire Futures Programme. 

He detailed the background to the report and said that the core work area of property rationalisation was around agile working and mobile working.  By modernising the way the Council worked by moving to more open plan offices, space and desk provision could be reduced and therefore running costs could be reduced.  A number of options were being considered about the County Hall site taking into account other sites owned by the authority, with the main aim being to make the best use of space.  Moving to different ways of working would give employees options and would create efficient and modern ways of working.  A significant piece of work was being undertaken to look at the assets owned by the Council to deliver efficiency with the smallest amount of pain. 

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Head of Assets and Transportation said that he did not have figures available for potential capital receipts for the Council if County Hall was demolished and the land sold as this was a piece of work that was in progress and would have commercial sensitivity. 

 
            Following a question from Councillor Arnold Wooley, the Head of Assets and Transportation said that about 10% of the County Hall building was currently used for storage.  To assist in improving this position, document management through electronic document scanning, retention and retrieval was being rolled out throughout County Hall and was a further workstream within the Flintshire Futures Programme. 

Councillor Richard Lloyd asked whether many derelict properties were owned by Flintshire County Council and the Head of Assets and Transportation said that this would also be looked at as part of the overall review of the Council’s land and property assets. 

Councillor Patrick Heesom queried whether it would be appropriate to hold a seminar with Members on the issue of assets.  The Head of Assets and Transportation said that this may be considered in the future but was not required yet.  Councillor Heesom felt that consultation with Members was important and suggested that Members write to the Head of Assets and Transportation with their ideas. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That the Head of Assets and Transportation consider an appropriate medium for further discussions with Members in due course.