Knowle relocation project: failing to sell public space to cover costs

The District Council will be making a long-term loss on its new office block:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: or, how a new HQ costing £8.7m is valued at £3.5m

It will also be making an immediate loss on the whole relocation project:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: financial profligacy in a time of austerity
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: ready to move, but at what cost...

These losses are despite selling off parts of the Knowle parkland:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: and green space
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: and its Arcadian garden

And all of this is in the context of national campaigns to save public green spaces:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: 'Save our open spaces' campaign 'too little and so very, very late'

Which is in part due to councils trying to raise cash to pay for local services - which is not even the excuse the District Council in East Devon has used in the sell-off of its own parkland...

The Rural Services Network reports on councils struggling elsewhere:

04.03.2019

COUNCILS SELLING PUBLIC SPACES TO COVER COSTS

An investigation by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ), the results of which have been published by HuffPost UK, has found that local councils across the country are selling off publicly owned property to raise funds to provide services.  

TBIJ sent Freedom of Information requests to all 353 councils in England to gather information. It found that in some cases, the money is being used to make council workers redundant.

The investigation shows that since 2010 local authorities have lost around 60 per cent of funding from austerity cuts which has meant that community centres, libraries, youth clubs and council buildings and land have been sold to raise money.

The HuffPost UK calls this a ‘double-blow’ for communities that are ‘permanently losing public spaces…only then to use the funds to support the loss of jobs and services’.

The articles points out that this starkly contrasts with Theresa May’s statement at the 2018 Conservative Party Conference that austerity in the UK is over.

Full article:

→ HuffPost UK - Public Spaces Are Being Sold From Under You: Why We’re Investigating The Local Council Funding Crisis

Councils selling public spaces to cover costs - Rural Services Network
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