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Petition number: P-05-731 Petition title: Land & Access Lane Sale at Abercwmboi We call on the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to halt their sale of the land and access road to the rear of properties numbered 1 to 67 Park View Terrace, Abercwmboi until representations from the local community have been heard and other options are explored. This sale is being negotiated without prior consultation or notification to parties who will be affected by such a sale.

Background

The Welsh Government document Managing Welsh Public Money provides information on the management of resources (including assets, land and property) by organisations within the boundaries of the Welsh Government Consolidated Accounts. Page 119 contains a protocol for disposal of land, property and other assets and in particular notes that public bodies (including the Welsh Government) should:

§    Value assets at market prices using Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Red Book (www.rics.org);

§    Consider wider public sector asset collaboration opportunities;   

§    Dispose of surplus land property within three years.

Space Cymru advertises public sector property that’s available to let or buy in Wales.  The land noted in the petition is not currently listed for sale.

Welsh Government action

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure has confirmed in a letter to the Committee that his officials are currently in dialogue with Rhondda Cynnon Taf County Borough Council regarding use of the land noted in the petition for access to an adjacent development site.  If the land is not required for access to that site, the Cabinet Secretary has confirmed it will be sold on an open market basis.

National Assembly for Wales action

The Finance Committee’s inquiry into Asset Management in 2013 made recommendations  to the Welsh Government around strengthening their Asset Management Strategy.  The Welsh Government’s response accepted that the development of  the Corporate Asset Management plan and strategy was a priority. The subsequent Welsh Government Corporate Asset Management 2016-21 states:

Any assets deemed to be surplus after strategic review, will be actively disposed of in accordance with recognised best practice.

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We have embraced the Wales Audit Office published guidance on asset management and we are actively involved with the “Good Practice Exchange” and support shared learning seminars. www.wao.gov.uk/good-practice/assets

Every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this briefing is correct at the time of publication. Readers should be aware that these briefings are not necessarily updated or otherwise amended to reflect subsequent changes.