Concerns raised over lack of information about council’s assets as councillors prepare to strike the new rates

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s regeneration and growth committee was recently presented with a portfolio of 72 buildings and sites with a “conservative” estimate of their value.

However, concerns have been raised that despite a three year £20m budget for asset upgrades, an elected member claims the council has not identified the current condition status of its property portfolio.

Councillor Kurtis Dickson said: “This report is lacking key information that we should have as we are about to go to strike the rates, this is something that we have been asking for a long time.

“What we had asked for was for this report to include the current condition and state of all the buildings within our property portfolio, as well as the cost and strategy for maintaining those assets to allow us to have an informed position during the rate setting process.

"This report does not provide that clarification at all.

“I am uncomfortable with the progress that has been made on this.

“We had asked for this asset strategy during our rate setting last year to be able to make an informed decision on setting the rates long term.

“We are now here a year later about to go into another rate setting process and in my opinion we are none the wiser on the current state of our entire building portfolio and the required work that may be necessary on them in the future.”

The capital spend by the council on its buildings does not include the £64m upgrade of Dundonald Ice Bowl.

The £20m budget for building upgrades across the next three financial years will see a projected spend of £2.6m this year, £10m next year and almost £8m in the third year, according to the council report.

A council director said: “The council owns 72 buildings and associated sites,142 acres of land and other assets/structures including monuments, bridges, playgrounds, pitches, household recycling centres etc.

"On our balance sheet this represents, as of 2024/25 accounts, a net book value in excess £144m including community assets.

“The valuation would normally be quite conservative and does not reflect value per building. The total planned capital investment for land and property assets upgrades over the next three financial years, excluding the replacement of Dundonald Ice Bowl, will exceed £20.6m.”

He added: “The stock of buildings and structures range in age as well as condition depending on use, environment and previous investment.

“The estates team manages a central repository of 38 planned preventative maintenance contracts with a value in excess of £2m. These contracts are cyclically renewed and range in tenure between one and five years.

“In addition, the council makes provision through an annual repairs and renewals budget allocation, typically £600k to £1.2m.

“This is for non-recurring expenditure so as to enhance and repair key assets. Many larger repairs which prolong the life of an asset are included within the council’s capital programme.”