Council considers selling assets

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is considering selling off some of its buildings and assets in a bid to cut its expenses.

Dozens of buildings will be sold off in order to raise funds of around £25 million for major new projects. Included in the sale will be town halls, offices, libraries, local centres and depots.

At the moment the authority is forking out in the region of £500,000 a year simply to maintain an assortment of 37 buildings, so getting them off their hands is going to save them money regardless.

The need for a quick sale might deliver some bargains for small business holders looking for a new location to operate from.

Councillor Paul Shotton, deputy leader and cabinet member for transformation, told This is Staffordshire: “Clearly we have already sold buildings, such as the former Heathside care home in Goldenhill and our property at 11 Hartshill Road, and this process will continue.

"We will continue with our rationalisation of assets, but it is very much a long-term project and not all the decisions have been taken yet.”

However, other councillors have suggested that funds could be better raised by allotting planning permission to empty land and selling off plots instead of buildings.