Agenda item - Policy Review Panel Outcomes - Urban & Rural Estate

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

That Policy Resource & Growth Committee:-

1)        Notes and approves the Policy Review Panel’s report (Appendix 1) and their recommendations (section 4 of Appendix 1).

2)        Approves the proposal and draft Terms of Reference to establish a cross party Asset Management Board as set out at paragraph 4.4 and Appendix 3.

3)        Authorises the Council’s Monitoring Officer to update the Council’s constitution to incorporate the new Board.

4)        Notes that the Asset Management Board will provide regular updates on progress and report to this Committee.

5)        Agrees to review the operation of the Asset Management Board after a period of 12 months (or earlier if considered appropriate).

15.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that outlined the key findings and recommendations of the Policy Review Panel established in February 2017 to review policy, governance and strategy relating to managing the council’s urban and rural estates.

15.2      Councillor Mitchell welcomed the report as a very good and thorough piece of work and commended the Panel’s findings. Councillor Mitchell stated the Panel was a worthwhile exercise for increasing Members understanding, specifically in relation to the balance between best value and the wider social and environmental considerations. Councillor Mitchell thanked officers for establishing a Panel at short notice and for identifying experts in the field and arranging for them to attend meetings of the Panel. Councillor Mitchell also thanked Councillors Janio and Sykes for their valuable involvement and the report provided a sound basis for newly established Asset Management Property Board (AMPB) to take the Panel’s work further.

15.3      Councillor Sykes stated that it had been a privilege to hear from experts in downland estate and rural management. Councillor Sykes stated that he did not believe the report reflected the richness of the debate and discussion of the Panel with its emphasis on land as a financial asset and did not establish the benefit of public ownership of the freehold of the land. Councillor Sykes surmised that the report was a misinterpretation of the Panel’s discussion and he would be abstaining in the vote.

15.4      Councillor Janio welcomed the findings of the report and noted the benefit for Members and officers of political oversight of decisions.

15.5      Councillor Peltzer Dunn congratulated the Panel for an extensive and very detailed report. Councillor Peltzer Dunn noted that the recommended Terms of Reference for the AMPB set out a two working day timeframe for distribution of agendas. Councillor Peltzer Dunn found this to be too short a timeframe and that it should be extended to five working days.

15.6      The Committee agreed to extend the deadline for circulation of agendas to five working days ahead of the meeting.

15.7      RESOLVED- That Policy Resource & Growth Committee:-

1)        Notes and approves the Policy Review Panel’s report (Appendix 1) and their recommendations (section 4 of Appendix 1).

2)        Approves the proposal and draft Terms of Reference to establish a cross party Asset Management Board as set out at paragraph 4.4 and Appendix 3.

3)        Authorises the Council’s Monitoring Officer to update the Council’s constitution to incorporate the new Board.

4)        Notes that the Asset Management Board will provide regular updates on progress and report to this Committee.

5)        Agrees to review the operation of the Asset Management Board after a period of 12 months (or earlier if considered appropriate).