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£250,000 project to cut council property and land portfolio
Reporter: Marina Berry
Date online: 01 April 2010
COUNCILLORS gave the thumbs-up to a new scheme to cut the council’s property portfolio.
A team, led by a project manager earning £65,000 a year, will now be set up to turn the spotlight on all council buildings.
Those which are not needed will be sold, and the possibility of the council sharing offices with other organisations, such as the police, will be explored.
Oldham’s council cabinet last night agreed a three-year project, which will cost the council £250,000 but is expected to save £350,000 in its first year.
The council has a range of empty and under-used properties, with 1,150 properties in use, such as schools and offices, a further 500 investment and regeneration assets, extensive freehold interests and a number of small plots of open space and land on highways.
The team will first target unused properties and champion change to release under-used buildings by bringing offices together.
Its plans for the three years include vacating the ground and second floors of Meadowbank in Tweedale Way, and relocating Unity staff from the civic centre to Henshaw House.
Offices above drop-in centres will be mothballed, and obsolete and dangerous buildings will be demolished. Grazing land will be sold, and the team will review the letting terms at Acorn Centre, Falcon Centre, Southlink and Henshaw House in anticipation of future disposal.
Comments
'costing £250,000 but expected to save £350,000 in its first year'- what about the other two years?
The first year they are selling off properties so of course they will make more money in that year.
You don't need a special team to sell off property, plots of open space and land on highways - what the hell do their legal team do? Aren't any of them capable of this role?
Yet another waste of tax payers money
This does not add up. Three years at £65,000 plus expenses etc will come to £250,000 so where is "the team" coming from. This is a one man job and smells heavily of a job for one of the boys.
oh no another moaner, after years of inaction by the other lot, now the tree huggers are getting a grip of it so that the council can get rid of all the empty decaying shells across the borough, Mrs C has a moan, why was she not having a go at the last lot, look at the shambles left by them from the old Town Hall to the Royton Assembly Hall left to rot with out any action, all these are now being sorted by the tree huggers, actions speaks louder that words, well done you tree hugger
are you for real celsus? do you really think spending £250k to save £350k is well worth it?
you seem to be on another planet just like the liberal tree huggers in charge at ombc towers.
you still havent answered my question on the "good" things the liberal oldham council have done for us?
so go on enlighten us!
back up your comments or shut up!
Bet the small plots of open space & the grazing land won't be in Shaw, Royton Crompton or Saddleworth.
so mrs C you claim you dont need a specialist team eh? the first thing you would be doing is whinging if the legal people got it wrong. Have you not noticed there is a credit crunch? the council will have to get rid of its assets as staffing levels reduce, look at sharing buildings and doing things differently - i'd rather it was a proper overall plan than simply just selling everything off- we need jobs and regeneration and that means thinking about what goes where- this is a much bigger issue
here goes fedupoldhamer:
metrolink to oldham town centre
sorted out the £20 million blackhole Labour left
400+ new homes being built
cleanest streets in Manchester
britain in bloom winner
sorting the yorkshire street drinking problems
fantastic xmas lights
reducing anti social behavior
oldham gallery open on sunday
Chadderton wellbeing centre
under inflation council tax rise 1.9%, not the dearest anymore according to this website
hows that for starters from the tree huggers, well done, keep itup
Was a manager neede dto acquire all this property? Why not get a commercial estate agent to do it as part of a deal to sell the property. get them to do an appraisal for free, and they get commission on the sales!
Waste of money to not do this or use the current resource base.
Celsius_civis wake up.
Metrolink a joke.
Sorted out £20m, are you sure? Stats?
400 new homes, who is paying?
cleanest streets, who says?
britain in bloom, waste of £200k
Yorkshire Street, what has changed? Xmas lights? Whoopee.
Anti social, are you sure? Stats?
Galeery white elephant, 150 people?
Chadderton well being?, replacement not new, started by Labour.
Tax. Labour did same and kept low as electioneering. No.2 in region. Very poor value relatively.
• Dr Kershaws: Lib-Dems sent them an £8000 rates bill!
• Oldham 6th Form, continually abstained from supporting it!
• Beal Valley golf course: Cancelled and paid £6million compensation! (Remember the 12.3% council tax)
• Royton Assembly Hall: Sold it for £215,000 with no stipulation for completion!
• Tried to close High Barn House: stopped by local people supported by Royton’s Labour councillors.
• Tried to close Royton Library; Stopped by LOLA supported by Royton’s Labour councillors.
• Royto
What £20m black hole left by Labour? The books for 2007/09 balanced.
Have Your Say
£65,000 for a manager. Yet more profilgacy from the council. In May, Vote these idiots responsible out.
By OldhamWatcher @ 01/04/2010 12:57:19