Exclusive: Backlash after Pickles criticises councils over vacant buildings

YORKSHIRE councils are facing an unprecedented strain on their property portfolios with new figures revealing millions of pounds is being wasted in lost earnings and upkeep of vacant and under-used buildings.

A Yorkshire Post investigation into how many council-owned shops, offices and buildings are currently vacant, has revealed a vast portfolio is standing unoccupied following on from the economic storm and cuts.

Across Richmondshire and Hambleton District Councils, nearly a third of all buildings owned by both local authorities are unoccupied, while East Riding County Council and Calderdale Council are struggling to fill just three quarters of their buildings – much of Calderdale’s figures relate to vacant retail units in Halifax’s Grade I listed Piece Hall.

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Last month, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles called on the public sector to take a “good hard look” at what it owns to help save taxpayers’ money. Yet his comments have sparked anger among many Yorkshire council chiefs who have criticised the unwelcome intervention.

Many claim selling off vacant assets in a depressed property market with nearly a third of high street shops empty in towns like Dewsbury, would be an even bigger waste.

Paul Bell, East Riding County Council head of economic development, said: “It is too simplistic to come out and say we should sell this. We have operated at a high level (of occupancy) in the past, since 2008 and the recession we have seen the numbers start to go down.

“If it was a vibrant economy and all the high streets were bustling, you could say we are missing a trick here. The question is who will want to buy them?

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“The pressure on us is unprecedented without doubt. It is a major concern for us. How we occupy our own buildings is also going to change dramatically.

“We have a consistent programme where we identify unwanted buildings and put them on the market.

“Ideally we would look for the right market as well.

“I don’t think the government is helping with these sort of announcements.”

Richmondshire District Council was held up as a national beacon of excellence in 2004 for building small workshops around Richmond, Catterick and Colburn that could help local start-up businesses get off the ground.

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Less than three years ago, the occupancy rate for this portfolio of around 30 buildings was more than 90 per cent. Now it has dropped to such low numbers that it is costing the council £100,000 a year in maintenance.

Council leader John Blackie said: “These buildings promote exactly the type of enterprise that David Cameron and the coalition Government assure us will take us out of this economic mess and drive us forward back to prosperity.

“This may be so, but it isn’t happening in Richmondshire.”

Local Government Minister Bob Neill said: “As these figures show by better property management councils can help Government improve local services and keep council running costs down.”

• More in Saturday’s Yorkshire Post