£7m of council buildings sitting empty across Lancashire (From Preston and Leyland Citizen)

£7m of council buildings sitting empty across Lancashire

7:30am Saturday 4th October 2008

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COUNCIL-owned buildings worth almost £7million have been sitting empty for the past year, it has been revealed.

Lancashire County Council has 17 “surplus” properties, including former libraries and care homes, on its list for disposal - but bosses admit the economic slump is affecting sales.

Building sales make a vital contribution to County Hall’s capital programme, which funds long-term projects like highways improvements and schools buildings.

County Coun Tony Martin, cabinet member for resources, said: “£7million sounds like a lot of money but that’s the sort of money we are looking for every year.

“It’s not getting any easier to sell things, because money’s tight all the way round.

"Because of the economic downturn we are having to be more realistic with our expectations.”

A report to be presented to councillors next week says: “There is no doubt that in the current economic climate sales will be affected, but each property sale is assessed on its own merits.”

There are 1,836 assets in the county council’s total £1.2billion property portfolio.

Coun Geoff Driver, the leader of the opposition Conservative group, said a “rationalisation” of office space had freed up a number of buildings.

He added: “It’s a lot of money and there’s a lot of space.

“But if you are going to sell the family jewels you have to it at the right time.”

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